Deep Blue project: FEC approves N6.3bn contract for waterways surveillance

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the award of a contract worth N6.3 billion for waterways surveillance under the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure project also known as the Deep Blue project.

The project was launched on June 10 by President Muhammadu Buhari to fight piracy and other maritime related crimes.

Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing state house correspondents after the FEC meeting, which was presided over by President Buhari at the presidential villa, Abuja.

Amaechi said he presented a memo to the cabinet to approve the award of the contract.

He said that the contract was for the provision of training logistics, operational equipment, and maintenance support for the government under the Integrated National Surveillance and Waterways Protection Solution Infrastructure in Nigeria.

“This is also what we call the Deep Blue Project. That’s the project that the president launched some months ago, around May or June.

“The contract was awarded at N6,347,967,644.21, inclusive of 7.5% VAT for a period of two years. It’s also important to say that the cabinet was briefed that there’s huge improvement in the security on our waterways now and we hope that it will continue as we progress,” he said.