The Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) have strengthened their partnership with the signing of a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at improving maritime safety, security and law enforcement across Nigeria’s waters.
The agreement, signed at the Naval Headquarters on Wednesday in Abuja, expanded cooperation between the two institutions in areas including marine pollution control, search and rescue, intelligence sharing, hydrography, maritime law enforcement, training and professional capacity development.
The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, said the partnership was designed to strengthen Nigeria’s ability to monitor and protect its maritime domain while improving coordinated responses to incidents at sea.
He said closer collaboration between the Navy and NIMASA would enhance maritime domain awareness and help safeguard ships, crew, passengers, cargo and navigation within Nigerian waters.
Agreement Sets New Accountability Framework
Abbas said the agreement goes beyond operational cooperation by establishing a stronger institutional structure for information sharing and the effective use of relevant facilities and capabilities.
“Beyond operational activity, the MoU establishes a stronger institutional framework for timely intelligence and information exchange, the appropriate utilisation of relevant facilities and capabilities, and cooperation in other areas of mutual interest, ” he said.
He said the implementation of the agreement would be regularly reviewed by both organisations to ensure that its objectives translate into measurable results.
The two institutions would also jointly organise an annual Maritime Safety and Security Conference, providing a platform to assess progress, identify emerging threats and adjust their priorities.
According to the Naval Chief, sustained inter-agency cooperation is essential to protecting Nigeria’s maritime interests and creating the security environment required for the growth of the Blue Economy.
“For the Nigerian Navy, securing Nigeria’s territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone remains fundamental to protecting lives and property, safeguarding legitimate maritime activities, preserving national security, and creating an enabling environment for the sustainable development of the Blue Economy, ” he said.
Abbas pledged the Navy’s continued collaboration with NIMASA, other security agencies and the sister Services to protect Nigeria’s maritime interests and territorial integrity.
He said the Navy remained committed to building a safer and more prosperous maritime environment for Nigeria and the wider Gulf of Guinea.
NIMASA Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Dayo Mobereola, described the MoU as a renewed commitment by both organisations to the security, safety and sustainability of Nigeria’s maritime space.
Mobereola said the country’s economic prosperity was closely linked to the sea, making the protection of its maritime environment a matter of national importance.
He acknowledged the Nigerian Navy as a major component of Nigeria’s maritime security architecture and commended its operational support to NIMASA in carrying out the agency’s statutory responsibilities.
The expanded partnership is expected to provide a more coordinated approach to maritime security, particularly through improved intelligence sharing, joint responses to incidents, search and rescue operations, pollution control and professional capacity building.
The agreement also comes as Nigeria seeks to maximise the economic potential of its maritime resources, with both agencies recognising that a secure maritime environment is essential for sustained investment and development of the country’s Blue Economy.
