The Nation Newspaper

Tag: gulf of Guinea

  • Tinubu devoted to security in Gulf of Guinea, says Shettima

    Tinubu devoted to security in Gulf of Guinea, says Shettima

    Vice President Kashim Shettima yesterday reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s  commitment to ensuring peace, security and stability in the Gulf of Guinea.

    He pledged  Nigeria’s  support for ongoing reforms within the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC).

    Shettima gave the assurance when he received the Executive Secretary of the GGC, Mr. Jose Mba Abeso, and his team at the State House, Abuja.

    In a statement  by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima said: “On behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I reaffirm Nigeria’s strong commitment to the objectives of the GGC.

    “Nobody can undermine the role of the Commission in fostering cooperation, peace, and sustainable development in the Gulf of Guinea,” the Vice President declared.

    Highlighting Nigeria’s strategic role in the region, Shettima stressed that the country would continue to champion collaborative efforts under the African Union’s 2050 Integrated Maritime Strategy, which aims to secure Africa’s vast maritime domain.

    READ ALSO: Your governor has your money, ask him for it

    “As Africa’s most populous nation and unarguably the largest economy, we have interests to protect, promote, project, and preserve in the Gulf of Guinea. Be reassured that some of the issues you have raised, the President will give them the desired attention. We want the Gulf of Guinea to function effectively”, he said.

    Shettima also lauded the Commission’s leadership.

    He expressed Nigeria’s “unalloyed commitment to the ideals and objectives of the commission,” while commending its role in promoting peace and fostering cooperation among member states.

    Earlier, Mr. Abeso, who led the GGC delegation, called for Nigeria’s continued leadership in strengthening the commission’s reform agenda.

    He emphasised the importance of expanding membership to include all 19 coastal states along the Gulf of Guinea, thereby enhancing joint efforts to combat maritime threats.

    He also underscored the need for regional stakeholders to engage insurance companies on reviewing the high premiums charged on goods transported through the Gulf, arguing that reduced costs would boost trade and economic activities across the subregion.

    The GGC Executive Secretary  hailed Nigeria’s leading role in establishing the Combined Maritime Taskforce, which has been instrumental in coordinating regional naval operations.

    He urged President Tinubu to sustain this momentum by rallying other political leaders to fully operationalise the taskforce for greater impact.

    The meeting was attended by the Force Commander of the Combined Maritime Taskforce for the Gulf of Guinea, Commodore M. S. Shettima; Air Vice Marshal Sayo Olatunde of the Defence Headquarters; Ambassador Obinna Agbugba of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Mr. Adebowale Badejo of the GGC.

  • Harnessing Gulf of Guinea, $3 trillion coastal economy, $800b energy, oil & gas, maritime opportunities

    Harnessing Gulf of Guinea, $3 trillion coastal economy, $800b energy, oil & gas, maritime opportunities

    The Gulf of Guinea’s $800bn energy, logistics and maritime investment opportunities come under spotlight at the High-Level Roundtable on $800bn Energy, Oil and Gas, Aviation and Maritime Investment Opportunities in New York as the United Nations General Assembly’s 80th Session opens in September, Dave Ogunsola writes

    Given rising dynamics in international developments,  socio-political and economic configurations across the world especially on subject matters such as growing demographic tensions, climate change, energy streams, oil and gas price fluctuations, natural disasters, maritime transportation architecture under various jurisdictional leveraging by business entities and conglomerates, backed by deepening interest and profitability in blue economy and blue diplomacy,  the United Nations General Assembly’s 80th Session (UNGA 80), is expectedly focusing on the theme: “Building our Future Together,” from 9-23 September 2025

    Thus, with the increasing dynamics, it is logical that this year’s UNGA, tagged UNGA 80 is beaming its attention on topical global matters such as peace and security, business and investment, trade, maritime, energy, logistics, sustainable development, and economic resilience. Going by this development, The New Diplomat, an Abuja based policy think tank in collaboration with the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC) based in Angola- the premier regional framework in the Gulf of Guinea region with diplomatic mandate covering about 25 Coastal African Countries going by the Yaounde Code of Conduct/Architecture, is hosting a High-level Roundtable during the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly, to spotlight the region’s vast economic, investment, trade and maritime capabilities, and serving as a nexus for global maritime, energy and logistical hub.

    The high-level Roundtable which would bring together global players across African Countries, the EU, China, France, the Americas, including the United States, G7+++FoGG viz. Spain, Germany, Italy, the UK, Japan and regional organizations,  Captains of the private Sector,  development finance experts,  Sector regulators,  private-public sector, international business executives, UN agencies,  the African Union,  diplomatic missions,  GoG top executives in strategic sectors, has been put together with the objective of beaming attention on the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) – a strategically crucial region on account of its vitality to regional and global energy, oil and gas, airlifting  capabilities, logistics, infrastructure and maritime frameworks. 

    Organized under the central message: “Unlocking Energy, Oil & Gas, Minerals and Maritime Opportunities in the Gulf of Guinea: A Roadmap for Peace and Security,”  the forum convened by The New Diplomat in collaboration with the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC), headquartered in Luanda, Angola, is building upon the inaugural event held during the 70th UNGA, in 2015.

    According to its Concept Note and programme, the forum seeks to deepen international engagement on peace and security imperatives and catalyze investment, trade and business in the region’s energy, oil and gas, mineral, aviation and maritime sectors.

    The Roundtable Programme added; “The roundtable will hold on Thursday, 25th September 2025, in New York, US. The pre-roundtable welcome dinner will hold 24th September 2025, 7:00pm-8pm, with the main sessions kicking off on 25th September 2025.And there will be a closing dinner where select top level personalities and organizations that have made positive impact in the Gulf of Guinea region will be recognized/honoured at 7:00 pm-8:000pm on 25th September, 2025. The roundtable will extensively highlight and dissect the strategic importance of the Gulf of Guinea and illuminate the region’s peace, security roadmap, $800 billion energy, oil/gas, infrastructure, and maritime business/investment opportunities as well as an outlined $3 trillion African coastal economy prospects.  For context, according to the OECD, the African coastal economy is projected to reach $3 trillion in five years, with the GoG contributing $300 billion and creating over 49 million jobs”.

    Cruciality of the Gulf of Guinea

    There is no doubt that the GoG accounts for about 50% of Africa’s oil with  an estimated 10% of global reserves. According to data sourced from the GGC digital footprints the Gulf of Guineaalso serves as a vital shipping corridor and a source of abundant natural resources – from hydrocarbons and minerals to fisheries – making it integral to regional and global economic architecture. It is a nexus for international trade, logistics and transportation. However, it remains a hotspot for transnational threats. The Yaoundé Code of Conduct, adopted in 2013 by 25 coastal states, provides a framework to address maritime threats. Recent developments, such as the federal government of Nigeria’s offer to host the Combined Maritime Task Force (CMTF-GoG) which enjoys broad support, signal renewed momentum. The September 25, 2025 roundtable acts as a timely international platform to strengthen such regional frameworks, and align peace, security, economic, investment and development aspirations, according to the event programme document.

    Read Also: FBI moves to arrest Lagos fraudster over N460m Trump inauguration crypto scam

    Gains to  Private Sector, Public Sector and Diplomatic Community

    The GoG is emerging as a critical gateway for investment, trade, and security cooperation, with over $800 billion in energy, oil and gas, maritime and infrastructure opportunities. This high-level roundtable provides a rare platform for public-private engagement to unlock the region’s full potential. 

    Market Access and Partnership formation

    By engaging with high-level government representatives, business leaders, across the Gulf of Guinea region and investors from across African coastal countries, participants will leverage the GGC as a strategic platform to align business priorities, strengthen networks, and foster cross-sectoral collaboration—public, private, and multilateral.

     Financing/Funding Architecture for Projects in the GoG

    Another benefit is promotion the creation of financing architecture for effective exploitation and channelization of the Gulf of Guinea’s energy, oil & gas, minerals and maritime resources for regional economic growth, private sector development, and the benefits of citizens of member States. 

    Deepening Blue Economy and Blue Diplomacy

    The forum will also promote regional collaboration on transnational projects in energy, oil & gas, maritime logistics, airlifting logistics and minerals. In addition, it is a forum for harnessing emerging opportunities in the Blue Economy, supported by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

    Innovation and Corporate Vision

    CEOs, captains of industry, and leaders of state-owned enterprises will also have a global platform to present their innovations, brands, and development models to a targeted international audience.

    Driving Economic Growth and Job Creation

    According to the OECD, the African coastal economy is projected to reach $3 trillion by 2030, with the GoG contributing $300 billion and creating over 49 million jobs. According to analysts, the Roundtable helps position stakeholders at the forefront of this transformation.

    Bolstering Regional Security for Investment Stability

    Another benefit is that it build Support for Nigeria’s offer to host the Combined Maritime Task Force (CMTF-GoG) —a pivotal step to address piracy, oil theft, and maritime crime, which cost the region over $2.8 billion between 2020–2025 (IMB).

    Impacting Regulatory and Security Frameworks

    It will also contribute to the evolution of the Yaoundé Code of Conduct into a binding legal framework, promote harmonized enforcement mechanisms and operationalization of the ASF/CMTF-GoG to safeguard regional assets and reduce investment risks.

    Fortifying for Intra-African Trade Growth

    Industry players say as AfCFTA removes trade barriers, investments in coastal infrastructure and maritime security will facilitate up to $560 billion in additional trade, including $450 billion in oil, gas, and maritime commerce over the next decade.

    Cooperation in  Logistical Innovation and Regional Business Dynamics

    The forum will also enhance technical cooperation and logistical innovation while accelerating regional business synergies through exploration of joint ventures and policy dialogues on aviation, strategic airlifting, and supply chain resilience—critical to peacekeeping, commerce, and regional response capabilities. It will also forge alliances between established and emerging energy-producing countries, and enable peer learning, private sector matchmaking, and knowledge-sharing that will help catalyze regional business growth and prosperity.

    While throwing some light on the programme, Ambassador Oma Djebah, former Nigerian Ambassador to Thailand with concurrent accreditation to the United Nations Economic and Social  Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) in Bangkok, and founding Chairman of The New Diplomat said the business community in African Coastal countries in the Gulf of Guinea region and Nigerian businesses have a lot to benefit from leveraging the abundant and vital economic, investment, trade and business opportunities in the Gulf of Guinea.

    He explained to The Nation newspaper that some of the objectives of the September 25, 2025 New York high-level roundtable include facilitation of multi-stakeholder partnerships and collaborations in business, investment, and trade opportunities as well as fostering appropriate multilateral frameworks to support the vision of the GGC.

    He said: “The other key objectives of the high-level roundtable include to showcase national and regional efforts to strengthen energy, oil and gas, aviation and blue economies, advance infrastructure and maritime security; support regional roadmap for peace, security, and sustainable development. The forum also offers an international opportunity to foster support for Nigeria’s offer to host the CMTF-GoG and promote enhanced private-public sector collaboration to unlock the region’s $800 billion infrastructure, oil & gas, mineral and energy opportunities.”

    Similarly, Ambassador Mohammed Bello Abioye, former Nigerian Ambassador to Pakistan with concurrent accreditation to the Maldives, who is a Co-Lead host of the event said expected outcomes from the high-level roundtable, include strengthened economic development efforts, enhanced investor confidence through clearer governance frameworks; expanded networks for B2B, G2G, and P2P cooperation in maritime, oil and gas, energy, aviation and infrastructure development.

    According to Abioye, others include: Unlocking funding/investment opportunities for both public and private sector players in the Gulf of Guinea region and facilitation of the creation of the Gulf of Guinea Business Roundtable (GGBRT) as a strategic regional business network, and nexus for private & public sector engagement in the GoG.

    Expected from the roundtable are specific key benefits and value proposition. According to Amb. Djebah, a Co-lead host of the event, these include: “ Mobilization of investments in maritime, oil & gas, and minerals projects in the GoG region; Showcase public-private collaboration models aligned with AfCFTA, Agenda 2063, and SDG 14 (Life Below Water); Drive technical partnerships around logistics, airlift, mineral, energy, oil and gas, and maritime capabilities, and promote the private Sector to benefit from the projected over $3 trillion Coastal economy by the next five years.”

    Target participants in the roundtable include representatives from: UN, AU, ECOWAS, ECCAS, GGC; State-owned national energy companies, transnational Private Sector; Global players (WTO)/GGC member States,  NUPRCs ; Diplomatic Missions/Specialized entities with interests in the GoG; National Govts (Oil & Gas, Defence, Energy, mineral, Trade, Aviation, Maritime); Development Finance Institutions (World Bank, AfDB, Afreximbank); Private Sector (Oil, Gas, Maritime, Mineral, Aviation, Logistics); and Sub-nationals governments, academia & global think-tanks.

  • Gulf of Guinea: Nigeria calls for stronger global cooperation to tackle rising maritime threats

    Gulf of Guinea: Nigeria calls for stronger global cooperation to tackle rising maritime threats

    As the Gulf of Guinea faces growing threats from terrorism, piracy, and transnational crimes, the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has called for enhanced regional and international collaboration to secure Africa’s most vulnerable maritime corridor.

    Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, made the appeal on Tuesday in Lagos at a three-day workshop themed, “Maritime Security in the Context of Counter-Terrorism in the Gulf of Guinea.” 

    She emphasised that isolated national efforts are inadequate to confront the complex and evolving security challenges plaguing West Africa’s coastline.

    “Our threats are transnational, and so must be our response. No agency or government involved in border security and migration management can operate independently,” Nandap stated.

    The high-level event, organised in collaboration with the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT), brought together security leaders, diplomats, and regional stakeholders from across West and Central Africa to strategise on joint maritime security efforts.

    Nandap outlined the NIS’s key role in maritime border protection—ranging from surveillance and document verification to the interception of terrorist operatives and organised crime networks. She stressed the importance of capacity building, advanced technology, and international partnerships to strengthen intelligence sharing and early response mechanisms.

    She said, “The Gulf of Guinea is known for piracy, especially near Nigeria. Maritime insecurity arising from illegal oil bunkering, fishing, armed robbery, and trafficking threatens the safety of vessels and crew and weakens national security.”

    “We aim to achieve this through sound policies, capacity building, community engagement, collaboration, and regional partnerships along West Africa’s Atlantic coast.

    “Let us conclude this workshop with clear action plans, stronger partnerships, and a renewed determination to secure the Gulf of Guinea for prosperity and peace.”

    The call comes at a time when global focus is turning to the region’s worsening maritime challenges. 

    A representative of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), Rocco Messina, told participants that the maritime space is increasingly being exploited by hybrid threats.

    “In the Gulf of Guinea and the broader West African region, terrorism, piracy, organised crime, and trafficking are becoming more intertwined,” Messina said. 

    “The sea, once seen primarily as a channel of commerce and economic opportunity, has become vulnerable to exploitation by terrorist networks and criminal syndicates alike.”

    He added that the United Nations Security Council is currently deliberating on the growing risks to maritime security, underscoring the global significance of the issues at stake.

    “These disruptions not only affect global trade but also threaten economic stability, food and energy security, and the safety of maritime infrastructure,” Messina explained. 

    “The Security Council emphasises the need for maritime domain awareness, enhanced risk management, and coordination among states and international actors.”

    Also in attendance were key Nigerian officials, including Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, as well as representatives of foreign governments and security institutions across Africa.

    The workshop aims to produce concrete strategies and foster lasting partnerships that would ensure a secure, navigable, and economically viable Gulf of Guinea — a region too vital to be left vulnerable.

  • Ogalla, Navy and sustainable partnership in Gulf of Guinea

    Ogalla, Navy and sustainable partnership in Gulf of Guinea

    • By Babajide Fadoju

    The Gulf of Guinea is one of the most important economic corridors in the world, given its abundance of natural and mineral resources, including oil and gas, and its status as a major maritime corridor for trade.

    The Gulf is a region that is vital not only to the economies of regional countries, but also other parts of the world, and every country that trades with Africa is very interested in ensuring that the area is safe and secure from all forms of criminal threat and activity.

    This would explain the active role that the European Union plays in supporting the Navies in the Gulf, through the EU Strategy and Action Plan for the Gulf of Guinea to Address Transnational Crime, as well as the development of the YARIS (Yaoundé Architecture Regional Information System) maritime surveillance software.

    It also explains the support of the People’s Republic of China, which in December 2024 hosted the second edition of the Gulf of Guinea Security Situation Seminar, a gathering of Naval Heads and the Inter-regional Coordination Center, under the theme: “Maritime Security Situation and Cooperation in the Gulf of Guinea.”

    With Nigeria being the biggest economy and most formidable military in the Gulf of Guinea, it is not surprising that the country plays a leading role when it comes to the maintenance of peace and security, through the direct interventions of the Nigerian Navy, as well as through mobilizing and supporting regional and multinational cooperation.

    In November 2024, the Nigerian Navy hosted the 8th Symposium of Heads of Navies and Coastguards of the Gulf of Guinea Region.

     That gathering, which had as its theme: “Maritime Security and Sustainable Development in the Gulf of Guinea” is one of the most important forums focused on peace and security in Gulf of Guinea and West Africa, with the 2024 edition assembling about 200 delegates from various GoG countries, as well from regional institutions, European countries and the United States.

    Read Also: No new revelation by FBI on Tinubu, says Presidency

    Nigeria has also led the push for the establishment of a Combined Maritime Task Force for the Gulf of Guinea, and has expressed its desire and readiness to support by hosting the headquarters of the Task Force in Lagos, a position affirmed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in February.

    The Nigerian Navy under Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla is resolute in its ambitions for continental impact, asserting its credentials and capacity well beyond the Gulf of Guinea.

    It is in line with this that the Federal Government in February 2025 signed an agreement with the African Union to provide Strategic Sea Lift Services for African peacekeeping and support operations, humanitarian efforts, natural disaster assistance, and the movement of military personnel and materiel. According to the terms of that agreement, the Nigerian Navy will make a vessel available to fulfill these services on a cost-recovery basis.

    Vice Admiral Ogalla is indeed, an unrelentingly vocal advocate of Nigeria’s central role in maintaining the Gulf of Guinea as a stable, secure and business-friendly maritime environment.

    It is noteworthy that Nigeria was taken off the global list of piracy-prone countries in March 2022, and Vice Admiral Ogalla has diligently maintained this status since he assumed office in June 2023, in part through the careful nurturing of bilateral and multilateral security and defence relationships.

    Proof of this commitment to relationship-building abounds, looking at the Naval Chief’s various bilateral engagements in this outgoing first quarter of 2025.

    In January, Vice Admiral Ogalla received courtesy visits from the Bangladeshi High Commissioner to Nigeria, His Excellency Mr Masudur Rahman, and the new Ambassador of Denmark to Nigeria, His Excellency Jens Ole Bach Hansen. Also in January, the Indian Navy Ship (INS) TUSHIL sailed to Nigeria on a Port Visit.

    At the beginning of March, the Director of the French Directorate for Cooperation in Security and Defence was at the Naval Headquarters in Abuja for a courtesy visit to the Naval Chief. During that meeting the French Navy outlined potential areas for deepening cooperation with their Nigerian counterparts.

     Indeed, France has been a critical partner to the Nigerian Navy, playing active roles in regional maritime exercises such as Exercise GRAND AFRICAN NEMO and Exercise CROCODILE LIFT.

    For Vice Admiral Ogalla, thought leadership is also an important aspect of leading Africa’s most dynamic Navy, and he demonstrates this by his readiness to share insights and shape narratives in the most important intellectual spaces in the country and outside.

    As Guest Speaker for the Annual Faculty of the Social Sciences’ Distinguished Annual Public Lecture, at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka – his alma mater – in October 2024, spoke on the topic “Safeguarding Nigeria’s Blue Economy Potentials: The Role of the Nigerian Navy.” In that speech he harped upon the importance of multilateralism, positing that “multinational synergies are necessary to enhance maritime security for safeguarding the enormous potentials of the nation’s Blue Economy.”

    Three months later, in January 2025, Vice Admiral Ogalla was at the National Defence College Abuja – Nigeria’s highest military institution for the training of senior military and police officers and high-ranking civil servants – to deliver a lecture on “Maritime Security and National Development – The Role of the Nigerian Navy” to participants of NDC Course 33, including delegates from foreign countries.

    Earlier, during the 14th Trans-Regional Seapower Symposium in Venice, Italy in October 2024, Vice Admiral Ogalla delivered a paper titled, “Preserving the Underwater – the Secure and Sustainable Use of the Underwater” to an audience of Naval Chiefs and maritime experts from around the world. On the sidelines of that Symposium he held bilateral engagements with the Chief of the Italian Navy, and the American Chief of Naval Operations (CNO).

    Also in October 2024, he delivered an address on “Non-Traditional Maritime Security Challenges/Threats in the African Maritime Domain”, at the 5th Sea Power Symposium for Africa Symposium (SPAS) hosted by the South African Navy (SAN) in Cape Town.

    Under Vice Admiral Ogalla’s watch – in his words, “As someone who has dedicated a significant part of my career to safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime domain” – the Nigerian Navy continues to demonstrate its readiness not only to fulfil that constitutional mandate of maritime domain security, but also to actively engage with key partners and stakeholders, and shape strategic narratives that bolster Nigeria’s military standing.

    •Fadoju writes from Abuja, Nigeria

  • ‘Nigeria must secure Gulf of Guinea’

    ‘Nigeria must secure Gulf of Guinea’

    Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Michael Oamen, has emphasised that Gulf of Guinea, a strategic route for shipping, is crucial to Nigeria’s economic prosperity.

    He said securing Gulf of Guinea is essential to facilitating the free flow of business and improving the economy.

    “The Gulf of Guinea is a strategic route for shipping. So once it’s secured, you can rest assured business will come in freely, and it will improve our economy”, he said.

    Read Also: EU, IDEA support Nigeria to mark 2024 International Anti-Corruption Day

    He noted that to achieve this goal, the Navy has been conducting exercises to develop its capacity and skill sets in amphibious operation and sea lift capabilities. The latest exercise, Exercise Crocodile Lift 2024, was conducted with French Navy.

    He spoke at the debriefing of Exercise Crocodile lift

    Rear Admiral Oamen hailed success of the exercise, which is to develop capacity and skill sets of Navy personnel. He noted importance of collaboration with foreign partners in achieving this goal.

    “When we train together, we’re able to operate better. Because it’s a collaborative effort to secure Gulf of Guinea, it makes it easier during real-time situation to coordinate security operations.”

  • FG investigating Gulf of Guinea as major route for arms trafficking – NSA

    FG investigating Gulf of Guinea as major route for arms trafficking – NSA

    The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, says the Federal Government is investigating Gulf of Guinea (GoG) as a major route for arms trafficking into Nigeria.

    Ribadu made this known at a two-Day Seminar on Climate Change and the Changing Dynamics of Arms Proliferation and Insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea: Nigeria in Perspective, on Tuesday in Abuja.

    The seminar was organised by the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), Office of the National Security Adviser in Collaboration with the Global Network for Human Development.

    Ribadu was represented by the Director of External Affairs, Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Ibrahim Babani.

    He said the GoG had abundant natural resources and underground mineral deposits boasting of an estimated 24 billion barrels of crude oil reserves, contributing roughly five million barrels daily to global crude chain.

    According to him, the region constitutes of 16 countries including Nigeria, spread along its roughly 6,000 kilometres of unbroken coastline.

    “It is the maritime gateway between Africa and the rest of the world.

    “However, the lucrative nature of the GoG in terms of natural resources, movement of ships and related economic activities attracts strange bedfellows and men of the underworld with ulterior motives pursuing nefarious activities in the GoG.

    “Organised crime syndicates are involved in various devastating crimes, notably; drug trafficking, human trafficking, oil theft, kidnaping & hostage taking of ship crews, piracy, smuggling of contraband goods.

    “In this category lies the smuggling of Small Arms and Light Weapons by international crime syndicates.

    “Though there have been reports on the proliferation of SALW through the Maritime Sector, the government is interested in further interrogation of the GoG as a major route for arms trafficking,’’ he said.

    The NSA said there was need for additional interrogation of the nexus between climate change, armed violence and the proliferation of arms within the countries of the GoG.

    He said that SALWs had long been identified as both a root cause and enabler of insecurity globally.

    According to him, the threat posed by their availability in the hands of non-state actors and international crime syndicates have left countries grappling with finding solutions to combatting the challenges.

    He said that all 14 reported kidnappings of crew members and 75 per cent of crew members held hostage in 2023 happened in the GoG.

    “Additionally, two crew members were injured, reinforcing the GoG’s reputation as treacherous waters for seafarers.

    “According to the same report, this maritime threat has evolved from the looting and hijacking of oil cargos to the kidnapping of seafarers, bringing the root cause of the problem sharply into focus,’’ he added.

    The Director-General of NCCSALW, retired DIG Johnson Kokumo, said that the impact of climate change had become a significant contributor to displacement and instability in various regions, particularly the Gulf of Guinea.

    Kokumo said it was also a significant driver of instability and conflict in vulnerable regions across the world with criminal networks exploiting the situation.

    According to him, this instability has in turn fuelled the demand for arms, contributing to the rise in the proliferation of small arms and light weapons

    He said the 2-Day seminar would provide an invaluable opportunity to examine the complex linkages.

    “We must reflect on how the changing climate exacerbates insecurity, weakens governance and allows the illegal arms trade to thrive.

    “Furthermore, we need to explore how we can respond to these emerging threats more effectively by fostering stronger national and regional frameworks for arms control, environmental resilience and conflict mitigation.

    Read Also: Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea sign Gulf of Guinea Pipeline Agreement

    “I assure you of the Centres commitment and resolve to ensure the menace of SALW is curbed,’’ he said.

    The guest lecturer, Dr Dickson Orji, who is the President of GOLHD Centre, said that bulk of illicit armed in Nigeria were moved through the maritime domain.

    Orji urged the government to pay more attention to the maritime arena in the fight against the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons in the country.

    He added that the larger percentage of goods coming into the country were through the maritime, adding that more attention be given to the sector to ensure that all ships were properly inspected and certified.

    He recommended continuous advocacy and stakeholder engagements, empowerment of the relevant agencies responsible for maritime security and building synergy between the security agencies in the sector.

    (NAN)

  • Nigeria calls for specialised court to try maritime piracy cases in Gulf of Guinea

    Nigeria calls for specialised court to try maritime piracy cases in Gulf of Guinea

    Nigeria has called for the establishment of specialised court to try maritime piracy cases in the Gulf of Guinea.

    Similarly, Nigeria also charged the Gulf of Guinea Commission to safeguard the environment and protect the region from environmental degradation, guard against dumping of radioactive material and nuclear waste.

    Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar stressed the need for concrete measurable timelines for the exploration of the rich natural resources of the region’s deep waters.

    Tugga spoke at the 6th ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Gulf of Guinea Commission in Accra, Ghana yesterday.

    Read Also: UPDATED: Gulf of Guinea: Nigeria calls for specialised court to try maritime piracy cases

    He also urged the Assembly to consider and approve strategies for the accomplishment of three teleological goals of the Commission, namely safety and security, sustainable development, and protection of the environment.

    The minister also assured the assembly that Nigeria’s commitments to the Commission is unwavering, adding that the country was in the process of offsetting its financial commitment.

    Stressing the importance and significance of Gulf of Guinea to Africa cannot be over emphasized.

    He said: “Your Excellencies, 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 offence, international jurisdictions are replete with examples of bringing offenders to book.

  • UPDATED: Gulf of Guinea: Nigeria calls for specialised court to try maritime piracy cases

    UPDATED: Gulf of Guinea: Nigeria calls for specialised court to try maritime piracy cases

    Nigeria has called for the establishment of specialised court to try maritime piracy cases in the region.

    Nigeria also charged the Gulf of Guinea Commission to safeguard the environment and protect the region from environmental degradation, guard against dumping of radioactive material and nuclear waste.

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar stressed the need for concrete measurable timelines for the exploration of the rich natural resources of the region’s deep waters.

    Tugga spoke at the 6th ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Gulf of Guinea Commission in Accra, Ghana on Tuesday.

    He also urged the Assembly to consider and approve strategies for the accomplishment of three teleological goals of the Commission, namely safety and security, sustainable development, and protection of the environment.

    The minister also assured the assembly that Nigeria’s commitments to the Commission is unwavering, adding that the country was in the process of offsetting its financial commitment.

    Stressing the importance and significance of Gulf of Guinea to Africa cannot be over emphasised.

    He said: “Your Excellencies, 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, international jurisdictions are replete with examples of bringing offenders to book.

    “The time is apt for the GGC to step forward and lead the way in establishing a specialized court to handle the trials of maritime crimes. This requires agreements with regional states and setting up processes to facilitate the trial of offenders in the court of competent jurisdiction that we would establish.”

    The minister, who stressed the importance of Gulf to the region, added: “As a demonstration to our commitment to the Gulf of Guinea Commission, Nigeria’s National Assembly passed the Suppression of Piracy Other Maritime Offences Act in 2019 to prevent and suppress Piracy, Armed Robbery and any other unlawful acts against any vessels unlawfully operating in the Gulf Region.

    Nigeria continues to deploy significant resources towards tackling piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. This has resulted in a significant containment of threats. We are proud to state that since 2022 till date, there have been no incidents of piracy recorded in Nigeria’s territorial waters.

    “Implementation of the suppression of piracy law has resulted in convictions and a clear demonstration of its effectiveness in combating piracy and other maritime crimes. These successes have improved Nigeria’s international image and highlighted her determination to fight crime in her territorial waters and Gulf of Guinea.”

    He added: “Similarly, the commission should make more efforts to safeguard the environment and protect the region from environmental degradation, guard against dumping of radioactive material and nuclear waste. Guarding against pollution by ships is another priority.

    “Nigeria calls for the endorsement of the initiative of the Chiefs of the Navies and the Coast Guards in the establishment of the Combined Maritime task Force to promote synergy in the region.

    “The importance and significance of Gulf of Guinea to Africa cannot be over emphasized. To this end, Nigeria takes this opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to the work and mandate of the Gulf of Guinea Commission.”

    With regards to safety and security, Tuggar said: “It is important to harmonize an effective mechanism backed by legally binding agreements to roll back criminality, bunkering, illegal trade migration, and unreported fishing. The internalization of the Yaoundé code of conduct with our national legislations, therefore, presents the region with an enforceable, legally binding agreement, for our water ways and seas.

    “There is also a need for concrete measurable timelines for the exploration of the rich natural resources of our deep waters. As such, the Commission requires a more constructive approach to building relationships with international, regional and subregional partners towards enhancing its capabilities to adopt technologies and knowhow for the exploration and subsequent exploitation of the natural resources in the blue economy of the Gulf of Guinea.”

    He said Nigeria aligns itself with the theme of this year’s Summit, “Building a Secure and Prosperous Gulf of Guinea Region for Sustainable Development”. 

    Read Also: Additional 16,300km2: Tinubu takes delivery of Gulf of Guinea’s Golden Triangle

    He added: “Accordingly, I reaffirm Nigeria’s commitment to the goals, objectives and vision for the establishment of the Commission, and support for the work of the Secretariat. “

    On the Nigeria’s delay in payment of its financial contribution in 2024 and the arrears in 2023, the Minister said it was as a result of  “the vicissitudes of governmental transition, following elections in 2023. However, this is currently being addressed and I would like to assure you that the process will be completed Tout de suite.”

    He also explained: “It appears that the pursuit of too many mechanisms with very little resources are 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 the accomplishment of three teleological goals of the Commission, namely safety and security, sustainable development, and protection of the environment.”

  • Gulf of Guinea: Nigeria calls for specialised court to try maritime piracy cases

    Gulf of Guinea: Nigeria calls for specialised court to try maritime piracy cases

    Nigeria has called for the establishment of specialised court to try maritime piracy cases in the region.

    Nigeria also charged the Gulf of Guinea Commission to safeguard the environment and protect the region from environmental degradation, guard against dumping of radioactive material and nuclear waste.

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, stressed the need for concrete measurable timelines for the exploration of the rich natural resources of the region’s deep waters.

    Tugga spoke at the 6th ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Gulf of Guinea Commission in Accra, Ghana on Tuesday.

    He also urged the Assembly to consider and approve strategies for the accomplishment of three teleological goals of the commission, namely safety and security, sustainable development, and protection of the environment.

    Read Also: Additional 16,300km2: Tinubu takes delivery of Gulf of Guinea’s Golden Triangle

    The minister also assured the assembly that Nigeria’s commitments to the commission is unwavering, adding that the country was in the process of offsetting its financial commitment.

    He said: “The time is apt for the GGC to step forward and lead the way in establishing a specialized court to handle the trials of maritime crimes. This requires agreements with regional states and setting up processes to facilitate the trial of offenders in the court of competent jurisdiction that we would establish.”

  • Additional 16,300km2: Tinubu takes delivery of Gulf of Guinea’s Golden Triangle

    Additional 16,300km2: Tinubu takes delivery of Gulf of Guinea’s Golden Triangle

    Closing last week’s edition of this column, I did hint that President Bola Tinubu’s official activities would increase. Well, the last week, his fifty-first as President, did not disappoint. Right from the first day of the week, being Sunday, throughout the whole of it, each day was event-filled. In many of the cases, the events or actions were too significant to the life of Nigeria and the survival of all of us that they may deserve to be celebrated individually: he chaired the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting for two straight days (Monday and Tuesday), during which some landmark approvals and decisions sailed.

    Nigeria recorded many successes during the week, many of them reported in the public and many more kept in secure spaces where they are meant to be kept for their value. Of all the ones made public, the one considered to be of the highest value was the report of the High Powered Presidential Committee (HPPC) on Nigeria’s Extended Continental Shelf Project. Ironically, it has seemed as though the full extent of its value and the potentials of its impact on Corporate Nigeria and every citizen is yet to be comprehended by most people. For the records, this achievement will rank as one of the most vital economic and diplomatic gains of the century for Nigeria.

    What happened on Tuesday was a very significant event in the life of the Tinubu administration; he became the President who received the outcome of a very important national effort at naturally enhancing the economic and diplomatic fortunes of Nigeria, by proposing to extend our maritime boundaries, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), an effort spanning fifteen years and yielding some of the richest resources the nation can lay claim to as a sovereign.

    For clarity, the report presented to Mr President by the Powered Presidential Committee (HPPC) on Nigeria’s Extended Continental Shelf Project was the positive response from the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS), the international body mandated to, among other things, consider the data and information submitted and provide recommendations on the outer limits claims of the coastal states, permitting Nigeria’s request for an extension of its maritime boundaries seawards with an additional 16,300 square kilometers.

    Read Also; Governance began only three months ago due to Rivers crisis – Fubara

    Like earlier stated, that effort was initiated in 2009, that was fifteen years ago, with the submission of Nigeria’s request to the UN’s CLCS, and between then and now, a lot has happened. For instance, records showed that for a long time, the process got frozen for some reasons and it took the coming of former President Muhammadu Buhari for the process to resume in November 2015. Prior to Buhari’s coming, the National Assembly, the Senate precisely, had in February 2013 considered the project and advised the federal government to fund it and set up an independent body to handle it.

    So when Buhari came in 2015, he dusted up the project with the Senate’s recommendation and set up the HPPC, going after experts and professionals with deep knowledge of the functions of the maritime/aquatic spaces, as well as the United Nations’ politics and technicalities to run the show, assigning the then Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to oversee the project. In April 2022, the Committee presented something of a situation report to the then President, indicating that work was still ongoing and that the line of technical communications was still intact between the Committee and the UN’s CLCS, with very positive feelings all around the project. Then finally, in August of last year, the UN’s CLCS agreed with the position and data provided by our HPPC.

    So on Tuesday, the Committee, led by its very experienced Chairman, Ambassador Hassan Tukur, came to see the President with the positive report. Listening to the cerebral presentation of the report by the technical team, including Professor Larry Awosika, a marine scientist and member of the Committee, and Surveyor Aliyu Omar, Secretary of the Committee, President Tinubu could not hide his delight. They informed him that the UN had approved Nigeria’s submission, granting sovereignty over additional square kilometres of maritime territory, at last fifteen years of consistent hard work has paid off for the country.

    “When the HPPC briefed former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2022 on the status of the project, the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) was still considering Nigeria’s submission and having technical interactions with the HPPC. These interactions and consideration have now culminated in the approval for Nigeria to extend its continental shelf beyond 200M (200 nautical miles). As it stands now, the area approved for Nigeria is about 16,300 square kilometres, which is about five times the size of Lagos State”, Surveyor Omar told the President.

    Now why should the news make more meaning to everyone identifying as Nigerian? It means that Nigeria has just increased in size, bigger than even when Bakasi was part of our territory, as a matter of fact, the size of the territory just added to Nigeria is said to be about five times the size of Lagos State. Number two, the newly gained territory lies within the area identified as the ‘the Golden Triangle’ in the Gulf of Guinea, which contains unquantifiable resources. According to Professor Awosika, the economic potential of the newly acquired territory, are so vast, but mentioned some of them to include hydrocarbons, gas, solid minerals, and a wide variety of sedentary species. Some of the available natural resources have not even been discovered.

    Then President Tinubu highlighted another positive of the new achievement; it was won without a war. For those who understand history and international jurisprudence, the most certain way of annexing territories, across human history, has always been through wars or some forms of other conflicts, but in this case, Nigeria got bigger without a fight. This effort deserves national celebration, just as a victor-nation would celebrate after a war.

    “This is big congratulations for Nigeria. At COP28 in Dubai, I also exchanged views with President Lula of Brazil on the need for collaboration within our economic and maritime boundaries. Today, it is a great honour for me to receive this report. I have listened attentively to this very specialized report, and I know it took a whole lot of effort to get to this stage. I commend the team, and we must take advantage of this and invite you again to have a repeat of this knowledge exploration on geography, hydrography, and the marine life. Nigeria is grateful for the efforts that you put into gaining additional territory for the country without going to war. Some nations went to war, lost people and economic opportunities. We lost nothing but have gained great benefits for Nigeria. We will pursue the best option for the country”, the President said.

    President Tinubu’s old-man’s perception of the achievement by the HPPC will be better appreciated by those who are conversant with the temperature-raising objection of Russia to a similar claim by the United States of America to a seabed territory off the coast of Alaska.

    Another very significant achievement for the President during the last week was the commissioning of three critical gas infrastructure projects in Imo and Delta states on Wednesday. That event alone, involving the expanded AHL Gas Processing Plant; the ANOH Gas Processing Plant, and the 23.3km ANOH to Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) Custody Transfer Metering Station Gas Pipeline, will increase Nigeria’s domestic gas supply by more than 25%.

    “This event is highly significant to our country as it demonstrates the administration’s concerted efforts to accelerate the development of critical gas infrastructure, geared at significantly enhancing the supply of energy to boost industrial growth and create employment opportunities. It is pleasing that when these projects become fully operational, approximately 500MMscf of gas in aggregate will be supplied to the domestic market from these two gas processing plants, which represents over 25% incremental growth in gas supply”, the President had told stakeholders and guests who participated in the launch event.

    Also on Monday morning, just before the commencement of the fifth FEC of the year, he graced the launch of the Organization of African First Ladies for Development’s (OAFLAD) #WeAreEqual Campaign in Nigeria, where he vowed that his administration would ensure that no Nigerian child is excluded from quality education, as well as end gender-based violence. After the OAFLAD’s event, he proceeded to the Council Chambers, swore in two more Commissioners for the National Population Commission (NPC), then straight into the FEC. FEC held for two days and like I said earlier, the outcomes were mostly landmark, including a directive mandating ministries, agencies and departments to disapprove purchases of vehicles and other power generation equipment not CNG or any other renewable energy-powered.

    On Wednesday, after the launch of the gas projects, he received Ogoni leaders, reassuring them of his administration’s commitment to the clean-up of their polluted environment. He also received the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Bishop Matthew Kukah, who paid him a private visit. On Thursday, he received the new President of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, at the State House, treating some of the ECOWAS sociopolitical developments with him. On Friday, he received letters of credence from three new ambassadors to Nigeria, including those of Burundi, Philippines and Kenya. He received some Chinese business executives, representing China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) same day.

    Let’s say this is an abridged version of a much fuller version of the landmark activities of Mr President in the last week. Activities are expected to get more intense as the administration draws closer to its one year in office. For now, assuming to know exactly what the mood will look like during this week will be assuming too much. Let us just wait and watch. Know it will be clumsy, what you may not know yet is what and what will make the list of activities.