The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, on Thursday paid a working visit to Snake Island, Lagos, where he inspected ongoing scheduled maintenance on the DB Lagos, one of the special mission vessels under the Deep Blue Project.
The DB Lagos, jointly built with DB Abuja by Shipyard De Hoop in the Netherlands, plays a crucial role in maritime security operations. It is specifically designed to combat piracy, illegal fishing, oil theft, and smuggling across Nigeria’s exclusive economic zone and the Gulf of Guinea. The vessel’s maintenance is being carried out at the Niger Dockyard.
Dr. Mobereola while speaking with Journalists, expressed satisfaction with the work done so far, describing the progress as impressive and aligned with the federal government’s vision of strengthening Nigeria’s local maritime capacity.
“I came here to observe the realization of the vision of the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola,” Mobereola said. “He wants to localize and develop the maritime community, including shipyards and ship repairs, and to ensure that we have the capacity and ability to do everything within Nigeria.”
He emphasized that bringing the DB Lagos home for scheduled maintenance was part of NIMASA’s strategic effort to boost local content in the maritime sector.
“What I’m seeing here today at the Niger Dockyard is a testimony of the fact that we do have the capacity to repair, and I’m confident we can also build vessels here in Nigeria,” he added. “The progress of the work is very good and we are very happy with it.”
Under the Deep Blue Project, NIMASA has significantly enhanced maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea, an area previously plagued by piracy. The initiative has been credited with the sharp decline in sea crimes in the region, earning Nigeria commendation from international maritime bodies.
The visit by the DG comes at a time of growing calls for the domestication of key maritime operations and infrastructure development. The successful handling of the DB Lagos maintenance project is expected to further build confidence in Nigeria’s shipbuilding and ship repair potential.
