Police, Marine Ministry to collaborate on stronger maritime security

The country’s blue economy agenda received a security boost yesterday as the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, received the newly appointed Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu in Abuja, pledging closer inter-agency coordination to secure coastal and inland waterways critical to trade and investment.

The meeting signalled an early alignment between maritime economic policy and national policing priorities, with both leaders agreeing that tighter surveillance, intelligence-led operations and joint enforcement are essential to unlocking growth across Nigeria’s marine domain.

Congratulating Disu on his appointment, Oyetola said the choice reflected confidence in the new IGP’s leadership credentials.

 “I warmly congratulate you on your appointment as Inspector-General of Police.

 “Your track record of professionalism and service inspires confidence that you will perform excellently in this office and further strengthen the security architecture of our country,” the minister said.

Disu, who assumed office this week, responded by underscoring the police’s role in enabling economic development through security partnerships, including in the maritime space. He said the Force would continue to back strategic sectors with intelligence-driven policing and coordinated operations.

Talks then moved to operational priorities, focusing on deepening collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and the police to improve safety across the country’s coastline and inland waterways. Both sides noted that as shipping, fisheries, offshore energy and port-linked logistics expand, security coverage must keep pace to protect assets and investor confidence.

Oyetola described the timing of the engagement as critical to delivering the Federal Government’s blue economy goals, emphasising that no single agency can secure the waterways alone.

 “The maritime sector holds enormous promise for economic diversification and job creation. To unlock its full potential, we must guarantee safety and order across our waterways through seamless cooperation among all relevant agencies,” he said.

For the police, Disu said operational support would be strengthened through targeted patrols, intelligence-led interventions and firmer enforcement against criminal activity on the waterways, aligning policing tactics with maritime risk profiles.

The meeting concluded with an agreement to institutionalise regular strategic dialogue and operational coordination, including improved information-sharing, wider surveillance coverage and faster response capabilities across Nigeria’s marine and coastal environments, steps both sides said are necessary to translate policy ambition into secure, investable waterways.