NIMASA Targets High-Risk Vessels in Intelligence-Led Blue-Green Operation
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has intensified maritime compliance enforcement through a new intelligence-led operation designed to identify and target vessels requiring closer regulatory scrutiny.
The operation, code-named “Blue-Green,” was conducted across key operational areas in Lagos with the deployment of assets under the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, known as the Deep Blue Project, alongside relevant maritime security units.
Beyond routine vessel inspections, the operation introduced a specialised intelligence capability within NIMASA’s Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (C4i) system, enabling enforcement teams to identify, assess and prioritise vessels of interest before and during operations.
The capability allowed intelligence gathered and analysed ahead of deployment to directly inform target selection, giving enforcement personnel real-time intelligence support as several vessels were boarded and subjected to compliance screening.
According to the NIMASA Director General, Dr Dayo Mobereola, the outcome has prompted the agency to formalise Blue-Green as a recurring intelligence-led enforcement model, with plans to extend similar operations to Port Harcourt, Calabar and Warri, subject to operational readiness and intelligence priorities.
During the operation, officers verified statutory certificates, cargo and voyage documentation, surcharge obligations and compliance with Nigerian Cabotage regulations.
NIMASA said the deployment is also intended to serve as a deterrent to criminal activities on Nigerian waters, while the agency highlighted the cooperation of the armed forces in the coordinated exercise.
The development signals a shift from largely routine maritime compliance checks towards intelligence-driven enforcement, where available information is increasingly being used to determine which vessels require immediate regulatory attention. NIMASA said the approach is expected to strengthen maritime security, improve compliance and support revenue generation.