- Executive Director Operations, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Fatai Taiye Adeyemi (right) explaining to the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle (left), the operations of the Command, Control, Communication, Computer and Intelligence (C4i) Centreat Kirikiri, Lagos, during his visit…recently
By Anthony Nwachukwu
For a more secure maritime space and economic prosperity, the Federal Government is integrating the operations of the Command, Control, Computer, Communication, Information (C4i system of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Navy’s surveillance facility, the Falcon Eye.
Disclosing this after his visit to inspect the operational model of the NIMASA C4i center in Kirikiri, Lagos, the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, said that Nigeria will benefit much more if all government agencies could synergise seamlessly and improve information sharing for the benefit of the country.
Matawalle called for enhanced synergy between the navy and NIMASA, especially with the C4i system and the Falcon Eye, which would massively complement each other.
“I am delighted at what I have seen today at NIMASA C4i Center and our goal is to see how it can be integrated with the Falcon Eye of the Nigerian Navy,” he stated.
“All we need is to secure our maritime domain, therefore the navy and NIMASA must work together to create the desired maritime environment for a prosperous maritime economy.
“We want them to work together and be integrated so that they will be communicating with each other. If the Falcon Eye and C4i are communicating effectively, our maritime space will be devoid of security challenges, and this will boost the courage of both local and foreign investors in the sector.”
On his part, the NIMASA Director-General, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, noted that effective synchronisation of both security platforms would add to government’s strides in reaping the benefits of the blue economy.
Mobereola, who was represented by the Executive Director Operations, Fatai Adeyemi, said added that improved information sharing between NIMASA and the navy will enhance the capability of the security agencies in curbing maritime crimes in Nigerian waters.
Describing Matawalle’s visit as indicative of government’s commitment to effective collaboration among all organs for a common goal, Mobereola stated: “I believe that (integration) is a step in the right direction, and I’m sure by the time that is done, it’s going to give us a more secure marine environment.”
The NIMASA C4i center, with manpower composition from all security services, is the central nerve of the Deep Blue Project, which uses modern technology to achieve real time security information sharing among all the deep blue assets, including special mission vessels, helicopters, aircraft, fast intervention vessels and purpose-built armoured vehicles.
On the other hand, the Falcon Eye is the navy’s state-of-the-art surveillance facility that incorporates various sensors along the nation’s enormous coastline, such as radars, long range electro optic systems with thermal or night vision capability, automatic identification system receivers, weather stations and Very High Frequency (marine) Radios for communication.
The integration of these sensors into the Falcon Eye system generates a real-time situational awareness of the activities of vessels in Nigerian maritime domain and some selected parts in the Gulf of Guinea.
