responsible for regulating shipping, has extolled Nigeria’s leadership
role in the quest for security in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG).
In a letter addressed to Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime
Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh, IMO
specifically highlighted NIMASA’s contribution to the war against piracy
and maritime crimes in the region, including facilitation of the
Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences (SPOMO) Act, 2019, and
initiation of the Deep Blue Project. It said they were proof of the
country’s abiding determination to lead the charge against maritime
crimes in the region.
Jamoh had earlier, in a virtual address to a meeting of the G7++Group of
Friends of the Gulf of Guinea (G7++FOGG), expressed Nigeria’s resolve to
lead efforts to achieve security in the region. He said Nigeria’s
strategy against insecurity in the region would be based on home-grown
solutions. But the NIMASA Director-General also sought international
cooperation and technical assistance, particularly as regards maritime
security strategy and policy development in line with IMO instruments.
In the letter signed on behalf of the IMO Secretary General, Kitack Lim,
by the Director, Maritime Safety Division, Heike Deggim, the United
Nations maritime organ praised “the efforts of the Nigerian Maritime
Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for its contribution to the
fight against piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea.”
IMO said, “From the successful enactment of new legislation in the form
of the Suppression of Piracy and other Maritime Offences Act, 2019,
complete with the forthcoming Guidelines, to the initiation and
implementation of the C4i Deep Blue Project, Nigeria continues to
demonstrate its leadership in the region with regard to maritime domain
awareness and the enhancement of maritime security amongst littoral
States.
“IMO remains committed to supporting the good work being done by Gulf of
Guinea States, such as Nigeria, to improve maritime governance and to
enhance maritime security in terms of both current and emerging threats
and challenges. It is, therefore, imperative that States adopt a
strategic approach, in order to ensure effective implementation and
compliance.”
Lim had in June similarly written to Jamoh following the arrest and
prosecution of some suspected pirates by Nigeria. The Secretary General
said the moves sent a “strong and valuable message” to the international
community about Nigeria’s commitment to safety and security in its
waters and the Gulf of Guinea.
In the glowing appraisal, Lim said of Jamoh, “I commend your leadership
and proactive response. I would also like to reiterate my
congratulations to the Nigerian Navy on the successful capture and
arrest of pirates from the fishing trawler Hailufeng 11, and more
recently on the rescue of the crewmembers of the containership Tommi
Ritscher.
“Those actions, together with all the other initiatives you highlighted
in our meeting, including progress with the Deep Blue Project, send a
strong and valuable message to the international community with respect
to the considerable efforts your government is making to curb piracy and
armed robbery against ships in the Gulf of Guinea.”
While addressing the G7++FOGG meeting, Jamoh stressed Nigeria’s efforts
to rid the Gulf of Guinea of maritime crime, using local initiatives
anchored on the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection
Infrastructure, also called the Deep Blue Project, with the Command,
Control, Communication, Computers, and Intelligence Centre (C4i Centre);
SPOMO Act; and intensified regional cooperation. He welcomed the support
of international bodies and stakeholders, such as the G7++FOGG, but
emphasised the imperative of regional collaboration as Nigeria’s
preferred strategy.
Jamoh acknowledged the challenge of piracy and armed robbery in the
region, but said, “Our solution to the insecurity in the GoG must be
home-grown, with GoG countries cooperating amongst themselves.
Commitment to this cause must become an imperative.”
The Director-General underlined the country’s determination to direct
the war on maritime crimes in the region, stating, “I have often
maintained that Nigeria is the Gulf of Guinea and the Gulf of Guinea is
Nigeria. We recognise our strategic leadership position and role in the
GoG, which has informed the extent of an integrated system of investment
to curb criminality in our waters, ranging from enactment of designated
legislation to development of human capacity and acquirement of critical
hardware and platforms.”
Jamoh hailed the call by international stakeholders for
multi-stakeholder cooperation to contain piracy, kidnapping, and other
criminal activities in the Gulf of Guinea.
According to him, “Nigeria is working with the IMO to develop a National
Maritime Security Strategy and in support of this has started work to
form a National Maritime Security Committee consisting of the National
Security Adviser, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, INTERPOL, Marine
Police, and other relevant security agencies. This committee will give
focus and strategic direction to our maritime security effort.”
The G7++FOGG was formed in 2013 during the British presidency of the G7
to support the maritime security architecture developed under the
Yaoundé Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct developed by three regional
organisations – Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS),
Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), and Gulf of Guinea
Commission (GGC) – focuses on the Repression of Piracy, Armed Robbery
against Ships and Illicit Maritime Activities in West and Central
Africa.
G7++FOGG comprises the G7 countries (Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan,
France, United Kingdom, and United States of America), and Belgium,
Brazil (observer), Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain,
Switzerland, the European Union, the United Nations Office on Drugs and
Crime (UNODC), and INTERPOL.