The Federal Government has announced plans to expand the Deep Blue Project to vulnerable coastal and maritime corridors across the country, including the sensitive Bakassi axis, as part of efforts to further strengthen Nigeria’s maritime security architecture.

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, disclosed this yesterday during the 2026 Graduation Ceremony of 492 Advanced Combat Personnel and Capability Presentation of the Deep Blue Project Task Group held at the Fifth Battalion Army Barracks in Elele, Rivers State.

Oyetola stated that the planned expansion would target critical coastal areas, including the Bakassi Peninsula, Igbokoda, and other vulnerable maritime corridors across the country.

According to him, the initiative aims to consolidate the gains already achieved under the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, popularly known as the Deep Blue Project.

“Building on the significant strides already made, the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is currently evaluating strategic frameworks for the expansion of the Deep Blue Project to further strengthen our maritime security architecture in critical coastal areas such as Igbokoda, Bakassi, and other vulnerable maritime corridors,” the minister said.

He explained that the move would further curtail maritime insecurity, enhance operational capacity, improve maintenance systems and ensure maritime security assets remain fully functional and effective in safeguarding Nigeria’s waters.

The minister stated that Nigeria had recorded zero piracy incidents within its territorial waters over the past four years due to the sustained implementation of the Deep Blue Project and collaboration among security agencies.

He also said that piracy incidents across the Gulf of Guinea had declined by more than 70 per cent within the same period.

According to him, prior to the establishment of the Deep Blue Project in 2021, the Gulf of Guinea had become one of the most dangerous maritime corridors globally, accounting for nearly 45 per cent of reported global piracy incidents and over 90 per cent of crew kidnappings at sea during peak periods.

He said the project had significantly transformed Nigeria’s maritime security framework by deploying integrated air, land, and sea assets, supported by advanced surveillance systems and rapid response capabilities.

The minister linked the project’s successes to the Federal Government’s broader economic agenda under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying maritime security remained critical to economic growth, trade facilitation, investment promotion, and national development.

He urged the graduating personnel to uphold professionalism, patriotism, teamwork and respect for the rule of law in the discharge of their duties.

Oyetola also commended the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, the Armed Forces, security agencies and training partners for their contributions to the success of the initiative.

Speaking earlier, Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dayo Mobereola, described the event as a major demonstration of Nigeria’s “operational readiness, institutional resilience, and determination to maintain a safe, secure, and economically viable maritime environment”.

MEANWHILE, a Singapore container vessel, MV MAERSK VALPARAISO, and a Nigerian-flagged oil products tankeran oil tanker, MT LADY MARTINA, collided at the Bonny Inner Anchorage in Rivers State, causing vessel movement at Onne Port to a standstill.

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) disclosed the incident, noting that on May 20, 2026, a collision occurred between a container vessel carrying an estimated 717 containers and an oil tanker at about 1130 hours.

NIMASA, in a statement released yesterday, said the incident occurred around Latitude 4.512375 and Longitude 7.189429, resulting in an oil spill in the affected area.

“The Deep Blue Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Bonny received a distress call at approximately 1130 hours regarding the collision involving MV Valparaiso, a Singapore-flagged container vessel with IMO No. 9433054, and MT Lady Martina, a Nigerian-flagged oil products tanker with IMO No. 5104033.

In response, the Base immediately deployed 10 armed personnel onboard DB 214, one of the interceptor boats under the Deep Blue Project, to the scene of the incident,” NIMASA stated.
According to NIMASA, five crew members onboard MT Lady Martina sustained varying degrees of injuries and were promptly evacuated to the FOB Bonny sickbay for medical attention.

The NIMASA stated that following the collision, MT Lady Martina drifted ashore and is currently aground along the Bonny Channel, while MV Valparaiso remains grounded at the Bonny Inner Anchorage pending damage assessment and further investigation.

The management of MAERSK has officially reported the incident to the Agency. Consequently, the Director General of NIMASA, Dayo Mobereola, has ordered a full investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the collision.

In addition, NIMASA has established a Situation Monitoring Room to coordinate response efforts and monitor developments arising from the incident.