Nigerian Navy (NN) has installed eight automated, long range camera-equipped surveillance towers in the waters just off the country’s coast, in a move aimed at tackling the surge in sea robbery attacks and crude oil theft that have blighted the energy sector this year.
Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba, chief of Naval Staff, said the equipment were imported from Japan at the cost of about N2 billion and are equipped with high-frequency radio and long-range cameras which can spot ships up to 48 kilometres away.
The data the towers collect is beamed to a central naval intelligence room and then checked against ships’ registration, flag and other information, Ezeoba said in Yenagoa, in a part of the Niger Delta plagued by criminal gangs.
“From the domain awareness centre we can see ships from anywhere in the world coming or leaving our maritime space.
“It also gives you ability to ascertain the actual threat the vessel poses.”
Four are in Lagos, one each at the Bonny and Brass crude export terminals, one in Yenagoa and one in Ibaka, in eastern Akwa Ibom State.
He however added that Nigeria needed to work on its capacity to pursue pirates and other criminal gangs.
Pirate attacks off Nigeria have jumped by a third this year as ships passing through West Africa’s Gulf of Guinea, a major commodities route, have come under threat from gangs seeking to snatch cargoes or hold crews for ransom.
Oil theft in the Niger Delta has also seen a relentless rise, although analysts say this has only been possible because of collusion by the security forces