Joyce Mmereole Okoli
In a remarkable show of international maritime collaboration, naval officers from 20 countries on the Siren Course aboard the French amphibious ship LHD TONNERRE have visited the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for a knowledge-sharing engagement at its state-of-the-art C4i Centre in Lagos.
The delegation, led by Colonel Stéphane Oseo, Defence Attaché at the French Embassy in Nigeria, described the visit as an opportunity to deepen understanding of how maritime administrations in Africa collaborate under the Yaoundé Architecture for Maritime Safety and Security.
Colonel Oseo commended the synergy between the Nigerian Navy and NIMASA, noting that the partnership has become “a model for effective coordination in combating maritime threats in the Gulf of Guinea.”
The visiting team 40 naval officers drawn from 20 nations have been sailing aboard the LHD TONNERRE since September 1, making strategic port calls, including a two-day stopover in Lagos.
At NIMASA, they held interactive sessions with officials of the Deep Blue Project, gaining insights into Nigeria’s robust system for maritime domain awareness, surveillance, and inter-agency cooperation.
The delegation also toured the Regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (RMRCC) , where they were briefed on Nigeria’s procedures for search and rescue operations, a key component of the country’s maritime safety framework.
Speaking on behalf of NIMASA’s Director General, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, the Agency’s Director of Marine Environment Management, Mr. Heaky Dimowo, reaffirmed NIMASA’s unwavering commitment to strengthening regional partnerships for safer and more secure seas across the Gulf of Guinea.
“Collaboration remains the foundation of maritime safety. We will continue to share knowledge and build synergy with our partners to ensure lasting peace and prosperity in our waters,” Dimowo said.