stakeholders in the Gulf of Guinea to intensify their collective effort in the
fight against pirate attacks and other crimes at sea in the Gulf of Guinea(GoG).
Buhari made the call on Monday, while giving his opening address of the
three-day Global Maritime Security Conference themed “Managing and Securing Our
Waters, which is holding in Abuja from Oct.7-9.
Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada, the President said the conference holding
at this time was indicative of the resolve by the concerned states to remain
committed to the course of tackling the piracy scourge.
at sea in the GoG remained pertinent, considering the importance of the area to
global trade, as much as safety and security are important to the forging ahead
with the phase 11 of negotiations for the creation of the African Continental
Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
effort, because security in the Gulf of Guinea is vital and central to global
trade in view of the fact that many critical trade routes connecting the
continent to the rest of the world, run through the Gulf.”
treaties on maritime security provide robust mechanisms for cooperation among
maritime nations in the fight against piracy and crimes at sea, the Heads of
Governments in Central and West African States had also instituted regional
treaties to ensure safety and security in the maritime domain; the 2013 Yaounde
Code of conduct, and the 2050 Africa Maritime Integrated Strategy and ECOWAS
Integrated Maritime Security.
at the epi-centre of maritime security discussions globally, Nigeria had been
commended lately for her efforts at tackling the problem.
efforts to eradicate the menace by governments in the region are bearing
dividends. For example, the IMB Reporting Centre has recently reported: “a
welcome and marked decrease” in attacks in the Gulf of Guinea for the second
quarter of 2019, particularly commending the Nigerian Navy for actively
responding to reported incidents by dispatching patrol boats.”
Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act on June 24, 2019,
credibility was further given to the relevant maritime security treaties,
providing the needed legal and institutional framework for Nigeria to ensure
safe and secure shipping in Nigeria.
National Surveillance and Waterways Protection Solution with Command and
Control Infrastructure, the President said.
from the collaborative effort the Nigerian Navy is putting in with other
maritime security agencies.
Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Transport and the Nigerian
Navy.
challenges posing threats to the security of the maritime domain in the GoG,
and develop a strategic plan to re-engineer the maritime security architecture.
participants from over 70 countries.