By MIKE ODIEGWU, Port Harcourt

The Federal Government has acquired modern security hardware to protect territorial waters and combat sea piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.

The Minister of Defence and Chairman, Presidential Committee on Deep Blue Project, Gen. Bashir Magashi (rtd), stated this in Port Harcourt, Rivers State after inspecting the equipment at the weekend.

Magashi, who inspected the hatdware in the company of the Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi; Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Ibok Ibas and Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh, said the Federal Government was determined to protect Nigeria’s maritime assets.

He said the acquired security equipment had the capacity to tackle all th security threats in the maritime environment.

According to him: “We gave out this contract with reference to particular specifications and we are here to see for ourselves whether they are built to specifications.

“Our technical people will continue to monitor and confirm that they are according to specifications or not. But so far, so good, I believe we are on track.”

Magashi said though the Navy was effectively tackling sea piracy, the deployment of the newly acquired security hardware would boost naval efforts.

He said: “Sea piracy is already being tackled by our naval men, whose responsibility is to protect our waterways and they are doing a good job.

“The Gulf of Guinea is so vast, it involves many countries, with crimes being committed by citizens of these countries.

“But with the acquisition of this security equipment, we should be able to observe, detect, and be able to call on this project to solve the problem of sea piracy.

“The navy is already containing the situation. Before now, sea piracy was high but it has reduced to a situation where I can say we are in control. The implementation of this project will further help in this direction”.

Among items inspected were arms and ammunition, fast-interceptor boats fitted with communication and navigational aids, armoured vehicles, and bulletproof vests. (The Nation)

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