Nigeria calls for collective action against maritime crimes in Gulf of Guinea

Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC) and called for collective action against maritime crimes in the region.

Addressing the 6th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the GGC, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, expressed Nigeria’s support for the Commission’s goals and objectives, particularly in promoting safety and security, sustainable development, and environmental protection.

“The pursuit of too many mechanisms with very limited resources is beginning to distract from the goals and objectives of the Commission.

It would therefore be pertinent for the Assembly to consider and approve strategies for achieving the three core goals of the Commission: safety and security, sustainable development, and environmental protection,” Tuggar said.

Tuggar also acknowledged Nigeria’s delay in payment of its financial contribution to the Commission, attributing it to the country’s recent governmental transition. He assured the Assembly that the process is being addressed and would be completed soon.

The Minister emphasized the need for the Commission to focus on achieving its core objectives, including harmonizing mechanisms to combat criminality, bunkering, and illegal activities in the region. He also called for concrete timelines for exploring the region’s natural resources and adopting technologies for sustainable development.

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Tuggar highlighted Nigeria’s efforts in combating piracy, including the passage of the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act in 2019, which has led to significant containment of threats and convictions. He proposed the establishment of a specialized court to try maritime piracy cases, citing international jurisdictions as examples.

“To counter the soft bigotry of low expectations, it is imperative that we consider setting up a specialized court in our region to try maritime piracy cases. Piracy is regarded as an international criminal offense, and international jurisdictions provide numerous examples of holding offenders accountable,” Tuggar said.

The Minister’s address underscored Nigeria’s commitment to regional cooperation and collective action in addressing the challenges facing the Gulf of Guinea region.