The president disclosed this at the official flag-off of the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure in Nigeria also known as the Deep Blue Project at the ENL Terminal, Apapa Port, Lagos.

‘‘I am confident that the project, which provides a robust maritime security architecture, will enhance maritime domain awareness capability and improve law enforcement action, particularly in the prosecution of suspects under the Suppression of Piracy and other Maritime Offences Act which I signed into law in June 2019.

‘‘This flag-off is an important step in the continuing shift in strategic action about regional maritime security.

‘‘It will serve as a benchmark for member states in the Gulf of Guinea and other relevant stakeholders to further develop innovative strategies and align efforts with the subsisting framework to improve maritime security in the region,’’ he said.

Calling for greater collaborations among countries in the Gulf of Guinea to secure Nigeria’s waters and beyond, President Buhari noted that the assemblage of the new maritime security assets was coming at a critical time when global discussions are centered on piracy activities and the new dimension it has taken in the region.

‘‘With the world’s waters accounting for over 80% of transportation requirements of the global economy, concerted efforts and innovative actions are required to address attendant security challenges.

‘‘Therefore, the flag-off of the project marks an important milestone in this regard and in our collective effort to tackle security challenges in the form of piracy and other maritime crimes in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea. It is also a demonstration of government’s strong commitment to ensuring security.

‘‘This intervention, no doubt, will facilitate a conducive environment for the maritime sector to thrive and contribute to the diversification of the Nigerian economy,’’ he said.

The president commended the Ministers of Transportation, Defence, the Chief of Naval Staff, the Director-General NIMASA, members of the Steering Committee, the Project Management Team and all other government stakeholders who have worked together to bring this initiative of the administration to fruition.

Assuring of government’s commitment to ensure the project’s sustainability, the president urged all critical stakeholders to work collectively for the greater benefit of all Nigerians, member states of the Gulf of Guinea and the global maritime community.

At the inauguration, the president, who witnessed the demonstration of a range of assets to tackle maritime security, supervised the naming of two Vessels, Deep Blue Abuja (DB-Abuja) and Deep Blue Lagos (DB-Lagos) by the Minister of State, Transportation, Senator Gbemisola Saraki.

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This was made known on Thursday by the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma.

The minister who spoke while receiving the Nigerian Fleet Implementation Committee in Abuja disclosed government’s determination to promote and increase indigenous participation in the shipping business in Nigeria.

He said the federal government would provide the necessary support to enable the committee carry out its mandate.

The minister assured that apart from the fiscal incentives requested from government, his ministry was planning to provide any other necessary support to enable the committee succeed in its efforts to reposition the indigenous maritime sector and make it globally competitive.

The Fleet Implementation Committee was set up by the Federal Government primarily to encourage and promote private sector participation in the maritime business and by so doing help in the diversification of the economy.

Senator Udoma acknowledged the importance of the maritime sector to the growth of business and the economy, and noted that apart from generating revenues for government, it also had the potential of creating wealth, providing jobs, generating foreign exchange, as well as developing the country’s transportation infrastructure.

While commending the committee members for the work they were doing, the minister assured that government was committed to growing the size of the indigenous fleet with appropriate incentives.

The chairman of the committee, Alhaji Bello, told the minister that maritime transportation was a critical sector in the economy of several countries.

He, however, regretted that with its vast coastline and abundant natural resources, Nigeria’s huge maritime potentials were yet to be fully explored for the benefit of the people.

He explained that given the volume of cargoes that entered and leave Nigerian ports annually, the opportunity loss to Nigeria was huge because of Nigeria’s insignificant participation in the carriage of cargo to and from the ports.

“This gives rise to huge outflow of financial resources in terms of freight paid by Nigerians to foreign ship operators and increasing the GDP and economic well-being of their home countries,” he pointed out.

The committee consequently solicited government’s support to ensure that fleet development with requisite incentives becomes the focus of implementation priority in the government transport infrastructure programme.

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