GoG: With Global Effort, Our Waters Will Be Safe – Buhari

·        Amaechi: Collaboration, Most Valuable Solution to Insecurity in GoG

·        Dakuku Advocates More Profound Global Response

President Muhammadu Buhari has said the Federal Government remains 
determined to rid the country’s waters of all forms of criminalities, 
stressing that with the cooperation of the international community, the entire 
maritime domain of the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) would be free from piracy. Buhari 
stated this on Monday in Abuja in his keynote address at the opening of the 
Global Maritime Security Conference (GMSC). The conference, the first on the 
GoG, was hosted by the Federal Ministry of Transportation, in partnership with 
the Nigerian Navy, to find solution to the security issues in the Gulf of Guinea. 
He said the efforts of the government to fight maritime insecurity were 
already yielding fruit, quoting statistics by the International Maritime Bureau 
(IMB) piracy reporting centre.

VISIT HERE FOR ALL YOUR BABY PRODUCTS AND GAMES AND TOYS

Minister of Transportation Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi said global collaboration was
 the best answer to the problem of insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea. And 
Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency 
(NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, called for intensified global response to the 
security problems in the Gulf of Guinea. 

L-R: Senator Ita Enang, Dr. Dakuku Peterside,The Chief
of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ette Ibas, The Perm sec.
 FMOT, Sabiu Zakari, Representative of Minister of
Defense, Hajia Nuratu Jimoh Batagarwa,  Minister of
State for Transportation, Gbemisola Ruqqayah Saraki;
Ambassador Zubairu Dada, Nigeria Minister of State for
Foreign Affair, Senator Danjuma Goje, Senator AHmed Yerima and others at the
Global Maritime Security Conference ongoing in Abuja

Noting that there had been a reduction in the rate of insecurity in the Gulf of 
Guinea (GoG), Buhari stated, “The convening of this timely conference here in 
Nigeria is an indication that we will not relent in efforts to rid our waters of the 
piracy scourge. To succeed in our objective, a collective effort from all 
stakeholders represented here today is essential.”

The President said as Africa proceeded with the second phase of negotiations for 
the creation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA), safety and 
security of sea transportation were critical to seamless trade and effective 
economic integration. “Our approach, therefore, towards the realisation of 
maritime security in the region and other vital sea lanes is contingent on our 
collective effort and ability to put in place international, continental, regional and 
national frameworks and resources in cooperation with critical stakeholders,” Buhari said.

The President noted recent efforts by Nigeria to secure its waters, including the 
enactment of a standalone antipiracy law, in line with the requirements of the 
International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the first of its kind in West and 
Central Africa, ratification of international treaties, and the establishment of an 
Integrated National Surveillance and Waterways Protection infrastructure.

Buhari also disclosed that the Federal Government was working on a Maritime 
Transport Plan intended to provide a robust framework for effective maritime 
transportation in the country.

In his remarks, Amaechi said collaboration was the most valuable solution to the 
issues of insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea. The minister, who was represented by 
the Minister of State for Transportation, Senator Gbemisola Saraki, stated, “The 
most valuable element at the heart of the solution we seek is ‘collaboration and 
partnership’. I have no doubt in my mind that this conference will push the 
realisation of the security solution we seek for the Gulf of Guinea and the global 
shipping community.”

Dakuku, in his welcome address, advocated a more profound global response to 
the issues of piracy and maritime criminality, saying this is the essence of the 
conference.

He said, “Nigeria has taken the initiative by convening this global conference to 
examine the maritime security challenges in the region. Nigeria is keen to drive 
this initiative because it is a significant destination in the international and 
domestic shipping map, accounting for over 65% of cargo generated from the 
Gulf of Guinea region and with rich endowments in oil and gas reserves.”

He identified the objectives of the conference to include defining the scope of 
coordinated regional responses to maritime insecurity vis-à-vis intervention 
support from external actors and partners, evaluating the relevance and impacts 
of the various interventions, and moving towards policy harmonisation and 
practical implementation through regional integration and cooperation as a 
principal method for delivering effective and efficient security in the region.

The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete-Ibas, said drawing from the 
total spectrum maritime strategy, the Nigerian Navy had sustained the operational
 concept of Maritime Trinity of Action comprising surveillance capabilities,
response initiatives and law enforcement to combat maritime crimes.

Secretary General of IMO, Mr. Kitack Lim, in his goodwill message delivered by 
Assistant Secretary General Lawrence Barchue, stated IMO’s support for 
member-states’ efforts to enhance maritime security.

“Working together is something that IMO is fully onboard with; together we can 
team up to deploy resources from all stakeholders in order to comprehensively 
address maritime insecurity within the region,” he said. 

Other speakers at the event include Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir 
Salihi (Rtd); Executive Secretary, Gulf of Guinea Commission, Florentina Adenike 
Ukonga; Chairperson, African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat; as well 
as the ECOWAS and ECCAS Presidents. 

6 Attachments