Buhari approves 16 ships, three helicopters for maritime patrol

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the deployment of 16 warships and three helicopters to fight maritime crime in the Gulf of Guinea.

He said the deployment of the assets was to ensure a greater action was taken within the country’s water and beyond.

He gave the directive on Thursday at the launch of maritime equipment acquired for the Deep Blue Project of the Federal Ministry of Transportation in Lagos.

He said the oceans and sea accounts for over 80 per cent transportation requirements of the global economy and that concerted efforts are being made to address the security challenges.

Buhari said it was evident in the recently established Gulf of Guinea Maritime Collaboration Framework by Nigeria and the Inter-regional Coordination Centre Yaoundé through the facilitation of NIMASA/Industry Joint Working Group to tackle maritime security in the region.

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, blamed the elite who he claimed were profiteering from the state of insecurity in the maritime.

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Dr Bashir Jamoh, however thanked the president for ensuring that the project came alive.