A Maritime expert, Chief Kunle Folarin, on Friday
urged countries within the Gulf of Guinea to collaborate to perfect security
measures against piracy attacks and other sea robberies.
urged countries within the Gulf of Guinea to collaborate to perfect security
measures against piracy attacks and other sea robberies.
Folarin made the plea in an interview with the News
Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
He, however, explained that security of the maritime
domain was a very expensive undertaking.
domain was a very expensive undertaking.
“I believe that if government is going to police the
entire Nigerian exclusive economic zone, is going to be an effort it has to do in
conjunction with other countries in the region, so that they can collaborate
their efforts.
entire Nigerian exclusive economic zone, is going to be an effort it has to do in
conjunction with other countries in the region, so that they can collaborate
their efforts.
“While one country is kind of disturbed by other
attention that has to be given, then the other one can fill in.
attention that has to be given, then the other one can fill in.
“Particularly that Ghana is drilling off-shore,
Nigeria is moving toward off-shore and that poses a very potential danger that
we must start to look at now.
Nigeria is moving toward off-shore and that poses a very potential danger that
we must start to look at now.
“That is the kind of summary we can give about what
has been reported and what has been addressed; who is addressing, who is
dealing with it, so that we can have a very good result.”
has been reported and what has been addressed; who is addressing, who is
dealing with it, so that we can have a very good result.”
Folarin commended the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian
Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for ensuring a secured
maritime domain.
Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for ensuring a secured
maritime domain.
He, however, said the security of the nation’s
maritime domain required standard weapons meant for such operation.
maritime domain required standard weapons meant for such operation.
“Basically, what I think is how do we combat this
menace?
menace?
“NIMASA is doing a lot to address it. Nigerian Navy
is also doing a lot to address it, but then, is a very expensive undertaking.
is also doing a lot to address it, but then, is a very expensive undertaking.
“If you want to go and police 200 nautical miles, you
need ships that are built for warfare, ships built for search and rescue and
such endeavour needs a lot of money,’’ Folarin
said.
need ships that are built for warfare, ships built for search and rescue and
such endeavour needs a lot of money,’’ Folarin
said.
The expert said that efforts were being intensified to
combat sea robberies which had taken international dimension.
combat sea robberies which had taken international dimension.
