The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has expressed readiness to fast-track the resumption of oil exploration in Borno, following discussions with Gov. Babagana Zulum on the state’s energy development.
The commitment was made yesterday when Zulum received a delegation of the company’s top management, led by its Board Chairman, Ahmadu Musa Kida in Maiduguri.
The meeting focused on the resumption of exploration activities in the Borno Basin and the delayed upgrade of the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant.
Zulum, while welcoming the delegation, emphasised the strategic importance of restarting oil exploration in the state, describing Borno as a location with significant commercial potential and strategic advantages due to its borders with three countries.
He expressed optimism that renewed exploration activities would unlock the state’s hydrocarbon resources, attract investment and stimulate economic development.
The governor, however, expressed concern over the slow pace of work on the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant, a critical infrastructure expected to improve electricity supply in the state.
He noted that in spite of the availability of necessary materials at the project site for about two years, the upgrade remained incomplete.
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He, therefore, urged the NNPCL management to intervene and address the delays, stressing that the project was vital to the socio-economic well-being of residents of Maiduguri and its environs.
He said improved electricity supply would support businesses, enhance public services and contribute to the state’s economic recovery.
Responding, Kida assured the governor of the company’s readiness to fast-track the resumption of oil exploration in the Borno Basin.
He also pledged to address the bottlenecks delaying the completion of the emergency power plant.
The NNPCL chairman commended Zulum for his continued support and efforts towards creating conducive environment for investment and energy development in the state.
Deep Blue deploys new technology to boost maritime security
The Deep Blue Project has deployed new surveillance technology- a drone and an armoured vehicle, to strengthen maritime security, protect government revenue and safeguard coastal livelihoods.
The latest upgrades are designed to help security personnel identify suspicious ship movements, monitor cargo activities and respond to maritime threats that cost the economy revenue and put Nigeria’s marine resources at risk.
The equipment was unveiled by the Chief Executive Officer of HLS International, Tal Spektor, at the Africa International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX) in Eko Atlantic City, Lagos.
HLS International provides technical support to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) under the Deep Blue Project, which brings together civilian maritime authorities and security agencies under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence.
Among the equipment presented was a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle capable of conducting surveillance from vessels at sea or from land. A newly delivered armoured vehicle, a light utility vehicle and tactical equipment for special forces were also displayed.
Spektor explained that the significance of the upgrades, however, extends beyond the acquisition of new equipment. Improved intelligence, he said, could help authorities identify vessels engaging in unlawful activities, strengthen regulatory compliance and protect economic interests tied to Nigeria’s maritime domain.
He said the project’s surveillance infrastructure could follow ships travelling towards the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), using information such as vessel ownership, International Maritime Organisation (IMO) identification numbers and Automatic Identification System (AIS) transmissions to support monitoring operations.
According to him, ships that stop transmitting AIS signals may warrant further investigation, although the absence of a signal alone does not establish that a vessel has committed an offence.
Explaining the system’s capabilities, Spektor said: “As you know already, the Deep Blue Project can watch, see, follow and track any vessel that is coming from any place in the world to the EEZ of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We know the owners of the vessels, we know the IMO numbers of the vessels, and we know if the vessel is using AIS or not using AIS. We have all the necessary intelligence and information about any vessel that is coming in and out.”
He said the project had also strengthened its intelligence platform to provide information about vessel histories and cargo movements, giving NIMASA and other government agencies additional data for their operations.
“Technology is always changing, coming forward and getting better. For us, the C4I system provides intelligence, including the background of 15 years of history of any vessel that is coming in and out. In the last couple of months, we have integrated additional intelligence into the system that allows us to see exactly what cargoes, dry cargoes and many other things that are of interest to NIMASA and other organisations,” he said.
Such capabilities, he stressed, could support regulatory oversight by helping authorities examine shipping activities and identify potential violations. They could also strengthen efforts to protect government revenue by improving the monitoring of activities within Nigerian waters.
The project’s reach, he said, goes beyond piracy and arms trafficking to the livelihoods of coastal communities.
“The Deep Blue Project is not only about piracy and militancy and arms and ammunition. It is also about illegal fishing activities that are affecting the people of Nigeria. It is also about the income for NIMASA, which affects the financial capabilities of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Illegal fishing can deprive legitimate operators of catches and income.
He warned that environmental offences at sea could also affect public health.
“Environmental issues, like dropping nuclear waste or other kinds of waste into the sea without giving any report and without obtaining any licence, affect the fish, the people and the health of Nigerians. The Deep Blue Project is doing so many other things that affect the day-to-day living of ordinary Nigerians without them even knowing it,” he said.
The new equipment is expected to complement the project’s existing surveillance and intelligence infrastructure. The VTOL drone can operate during daytime and nighttime missions, while the armoured vehicle is intended to support special forces working in different operational environments.
Spektor said investments in these capabilities were necessary to keep pace with changing security threats and improve the enforcement of maritime laws.
“We have to be updated, we have to bring new assets, we have to use new assets, and we have to make sure that we are always on top of whoever is trying to do something else and enforce the law. At the end of the day, this is also about increasing revenue, because the revenues are good for the people of Nigeria,” he said.
Spektor also linked Nigeria’s recent international maritime milestones to cooperation among NIMASA, the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the Ministry of Defence and other security agencies.
He highlighted Nigeria’s election into Category C of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council and the lifting of a United States restriction relating to Nigerian ports after 12 years. He also referred to the country’s removal from international maritime blacklists and red lists, but did not identify the specific listings or restrictions during the presentation.
He described the project as an example of how civilian institutions and security agencies could work together to address threats across the maritime domain.
The AFRIDEX presentation included a demonstration of the tactical and operational capabilities of the Deep Blue Project’s special forces.
Spektor reaffirmed HLS International’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s maritime security through technology, training and operational support
