The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency has strengthened its maritime security operations with the deployment of advanced surveillance technology, including unmanned aerial vehicles, armoured vehicles and specialised tactical equipment, to combat illegal activities in the country’s territorial waters.
The new equipment was unveiled on Tuesday by the Chief Executive Officer of HLS International, Tal Spektor, at the Africa International Defence Exhibition in Lagos.
HLS International is a technical partner to NIMASA under the Deep Blue Project.
Spektor said the initiative, which operates under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence, was designed to improve intelligence gathering, surveillance and coordinated security operations.
Speaking at the event, he said the project “delivers comprehensive maritime security through intelligence gathering, surveillance and coordinated enforcement operations.”
He explained that the project’s Command and Control Centre allows security authorities to track vessels travelling from different parts of the world into Nigeria’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
According to him, the system provides details such as vessel ownership, International Maritime Organisation identification numbers and Automatic Identification System status to help identify suspicious movements.
“The system provides information on vessel ownership, International Maritime Organisation identification numbers, Automatic Identification System status and other intelligence needed to track maritime movements and identify suspicious activities,” Spektor said.
He added that recent improvements to the project’s intelligence infrastructure had enhanced its capacity to monitor cargo movements and provide useful information to NIMASA and other government agencies.
The equipment showcased included a light utility vehicle for land and bush operations, a vertical take-off and landing drone, a newly delivered armoured vehicle and specialised equipment for the project’s special operations unit.
According to Spektor, the VTOL drone can take off and land vertically, allowing it to operate from vessels at sea or from land while gathering surveillance information during the day and at night.
He noted that the tactical unmanned aerial vehicle system had been deployed in various operations over the past two years.
He stressed that regular technological upgrades were essential to keep pace with evolving maritime security threats.
The armoured vehicle, he added, would strengthen the capacity of special forces operating in different environments, while other equipment included night-vision devices, uniforms, arms and ammunition.
Spektor maintained that efforts to secure Nigeria’s maritime domain must also cover activities on land, noting that illegal operations at sea often have links to criminal activities ashore.
“Any illegal activity at sea will always start from the land, hence the importance of strengthening the operational capacity of personnel working under the Deep Blue Project,” he said.
Beyond combating piracy, militancy and arms trafficking, he said the equipment would support the fight against illegal fishing, protect the marine environment, improve compliance with maritime regulations and safeguard government revenue.
He warned that illegal fishing could undermine the livelihoods of coastal communities, while the unauthorised disposal of hazardous waste at sea posed risks to marine ecosystems, fish stocks and public health.
The HLS International chief executive said stronger surveillance and enforcement would help ensure that vessels operating in Nigerian waters complied with relevant laws and regulations.
He added that improved maritime security could boost confidence in the country’s maritime sector and protect its economic interests.
According to him, effective maritime security also has implications for the safety of goods transported by sea, maritime insurance costs and the wider environment for international trade, even when its benefits are not immediately apparent to the public.
Spektor attributed improvements in Nigeria’s international maritime standing to cooperation among NIMASA, the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the Ministry of Defence and other security agencies.
He cited Nigeria’s removal from international maritime blacklists and red lists, its election into Category C of the International Maritime Organisation Council and the lifting of American sanctions after 12 years as developments he associated with improvements in the country’s maritime and security environment.
He described the Deep Blue Project as an example of cooperation between civilian institutions and security agencies, emphasising the importance of joint operations, reliable intelligence and sustained investment in modern technology.
Spektor reaffirmed HLS International’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s maritime security objectives through technological solutions, training and operational assistance.
