Naval officers from 20 countries across the world, currently participating in the Siren Course onboard the LHD TONNERRE, have visited the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for a knowledge-sharing engagement aimed at strengthening international maritime security cooperation.
The delegation, led by the Defence Attaché at the French Embassy, Colonel Stéphane Oseo, said the visit was designed to deepen understanding of how maritime administrations operate within the framework of the Yaoundé Architecture for Maritime Safety and Security in West and Central Africa.
Colonel Oseo commended the collaboration between the Nigerian Navy and NIMASA, describing it as a model partnership worthy of study for its effectiveness in improving security coordination in the Gulf of Guinea.
The 40 participants, drawn from 20 nations, have been onboard the LHD TONNERRE since September 1, with Lagos serving as one of their scheduled port calls during the course.
During the visit, the officers engaged with NIMASA’s Deep Blue Project officials on strategies for enhancing maritime domain awareness, intelligence sharing, and inter-agency coordination. They also toured the Regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (RMRCC), where they were briefed on Nigeria’s operational framework for maritime search and rescue activities.
Representing the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, the Director of Marine Environment Management, Mr. Heaky Dimowo, reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to sustained regional collaboration to improve maritime safety and security across the Gulf of Guinea.
“NIMASA remains dedicated to promoting international partnerships that strengthen our collective capacity to secure the Gulf of Guinea and protect maritime trade routes vital to regional and global economies,” Dimowo said.
Photo Caption:
From 6th left: Deputy Director, Deep Blue Project, NIMASA, Easton Tuti; Director, Marine Environment Management, NIMASA, Heaky Dimowo; French Defence Attaché to Nigeria, Colonel Stéphane Oseo; and others during the visit by naval officers from 20 countries currently on the Siren Course onboard the LHD TONNERRE to NIMASA in Lagos.
