The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has launched a major intelligence-led enforcement operation across key maritime locations in Lagos, deploying its Deep Blue assets and specialised security units to tighten the noose on vessels and operators violating regulatory requirements.
The operation, code-named “Blue-Green,” combined intelligence gathering, analysis and target development with coordinated enforcement at sea, with several vessels boarded and subjected to compliance checks.
NIMASA said the operation was designed to strengthen maritime security, improve regulatory compliance and prevent activities capable of undermining the safety and integrity of Nigeria’s maritime domain.
A major feature of the operation was the deployment of a new specialised intelligence capability within the NIMASA Deep Blue structure and its Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (C4i) system.
According to the agency, the new capability is designed to improve the identification, assessment and prioritisation of vessels of interest, enabling enforcement teams to focus on specific targets and receive real-time intelligence support during operations.
The Director-General of NIMASA, Dr Dayo Mobereola, said the outcome of the operation had convinced the agency to institutionalise the exercise as a recurring intelligence-led enforcement model.
“Following the outcome of the operation, we at NIMASA will formalise Blue-Green as a recurring intelligence-led enforcement model and progressively expand similar operations to other maritime regions, including Port Harcourt, Calabar and Warri, in line with operational readiness and intelligence priorities,” Mobereola said.
He added that the deployment of multiple enforcement platforms was intended to send a strong warning to individuals and operators with criminal intentions within Nigeria’s maritime space.
“This deployment of multiple enforcement platforms is to serve as deterrent to anybody with criminal intentions. We are glad with the level of cooperation from the armed forces,” the NIMASA boss stated.
Vessels Under Scrutiny
During the operation, several vessels were boarded and inspected as enforcement teams conducted document verification and compliance screening.
The inspections covered statutory certification, cargo and voyage documentation, surcharge obligations and compliance with Nigeria’s Cabotage regulations.
NIMASA said the operation demonstrated the benefits of integrating its enforcement capabilities with the intelligence resources of the C4i system and the operational assets of the Deep Blue structure.
The agency said the approach would provide the foundation for more structured and sustained intelligence-led enforcement operations across Nigeria’s maritime domain.
Beyond security, NIMASA said the strengthened compliance regime was also expected to support improved revenue generation by ensuring that vessels and operators meet their statutory obligations.
The agency said the expansion of the Blue-Green model to other maritime regions would be guided by operational readiness and intelligence priorities, signalling a broader enforcement drive against regulatory violations across Nigeria’s waterways.
