President Muhammadu Buhari is seeking the collaboration of the global maritime community to eradicate the high rate of pirate activities in the Gulf of Guinea in a bid to secure the huge revenues that are overturned on the waters due to insecurity.
Speaking in Abuja on Monday at the Global Maritime Security Conference, the President reemphasised the need for joint collaboration to effectively tackle the activities of bandits in the Gulf of Guinea.
Represented by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Zubairu Dada, Buhari expressed worry that “the Gulf of Guinea is at the centre of Maritime security discussions globally” noting that available statistics, however, indicate that efforts to eradicate the menace by governments in the region are bearing dividends.
He expressed confidence that “the convening of the conference in Nigeria is an indication of Federal governments resolves to tackle the scourge in the Maritime sector. We will not relent in our efforts to rid our waters of the Piracy scourge,” he noted.
The President stated that: “I reiterate the need for a joint 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 rest of the world run through the Gulf.”
In his address at the conference, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi said that there was significant global concern on the rising spate of maritime insecurity and the perception that the Gulf of Guinea Region accounts for most of these cases.
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Represented by the Minister of State for Transport, Gbemi Saraki, Amaechi lamented that the absence of a legal framework within member states seems to be a significant challenge in the regional effort to stem the tide.
According to him: “Nigeria, in this regard thankfully has put in place detailed legislation in the form of a Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act to tackle and repress piracy and other maritime crimes in the Nigerian maritime domain.
“Whilst there have been several endeavours to address the broad array of real and potential threats in the Gulf of Guinea over time, the approach this time is to appraise the relevance and impacts of the various interventions initiated already to tackle maritime insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea to revise and adapt them to address the current challenges,” he noted.
Amaechi revealed that integrated maritime security architecture has also been emplaced with a command and control centre for effective policing of the Nigerian waters.
“As we open the dialogue and explore maritime security options for dealing with the challenges and opportunities to forge new alliances; the development of practical ideas and initiatives would undoubtedly be birthed through the robust discussions that would ensue in the coming days of the Conference. This, no doubt will complement already established initiatives in the African region.”
The Minister expressed confidence that the result of the country’s efforts would foster better cooperation in addressing the challenges of maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea for the overall benefit of member states and the world at large.
Meanwhile, the Director-General Nigerian Maritime and safety administration agency (NIMASA), Dakuku Peterside in his welcome address said seeing that Nigeria accounts for over 65% of the cargo originating from the Gulf of Guinea, “it was imperative that the country spearheaded the discussion on Maritime safety in the region”.
He noted that: “considering the importance of the Gulf of Guinea and its navigational route, international course as well as global energy balance, Nigeria has taken the initiative by convening this global conference to examine Maritime security challenges in the region.”
The conference will come to an end on Wednesday (9th of October) with expected practical solutions that would end the menace of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.