Nigeria has signed an exchange of notes worth $2.78 million with the Japanese government for an economic and social development programme involving the acquisition of high-speed boats to reinforce services for coastal security in Nigeria.
The agreement has the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) as the implementing partner.
Clem Agba, minister of state, federal ministry of budget and national planning, signed on behalf of Nigeria, while Kazuyoshi Matsunaga, ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Japan to Nigeria, signed on behalf of the Japanese government, with Bashir Jamoh, the director-general of NIMASA, in attendance.
Agba noted that the procurement of the high-speed boat will enhance the operations of the Deep Blue project. He commended the Japanese government for their interest and interventions in Nigeria for economic development.
“This project will strengthen the operations of NIMASA and the partnership between the government of Japan and Nigeria. Nigeria also appreciates the recent exchange of notes we signed for emergency improvement of electricity supply facilities in Abuja, and the role Japan played in the development of the National Power Development Master plan designed to guide the government on the optimal energy mix and efficiency for Nigeria,” the minister said.
Jamoh, the NIMASA DG, assured the Japanese government that the agency will work with relevant stakeholders to ensure the sustainability of the recent success in the war against piracy in Nigerian waters and the Gulf of Guinea.
“This high-speed boat is a welcome addition to our growing arsenal of platforms and assets to reinforce service for coastal security, not only in Nigeria but also in the Gulf of Guinea, as over 60 percent of shipping activities in the region pass through Nigerian waters,” he said.
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According to him, the boats will be incorporated into the Deep Blue project which already has two special mission vessels; two special mission aircraft; three special mission helicopters; 10 unmanned air systems and vehicles; 17 fast-moving interceptor boats; 16 armoured vehicles and the C4i centre.
On his part, Matsunaga Kazuyoshi noted that the project will support measures adopted by the Nigerian government to deal with the threat to the blue economy, prevent and suppress piracy, armed robbery, and any other unlawful act against ships in Nigerian waters.
“In the Gulf of Guinea, the piracy problem is hindering the economic development of the coastal areas. And a slowdown in economic development impoverishes the coastal population, forcing some of them into piracy for their livelihood. We need to break this vicious cycle,” the ambassador said.
“Economic and social development is one of the guiding principles of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD). The people and government of Japan hope this project will enable NIMASA to reinforce their operations and services for coastal security in Nigeria, strengthen Nigeria’s counter-piracy efforts and prove useful for the security of the Gulf of Guinea,” he added.
