Navy calls for harmonised maritime security initiatives and legal frameworks

Abiodun OBA

Towards ensuring better maritime security within the Gulf of Guinea, the Nigerian Navy has advocated for the establishment of a common mechanism for information sharing as well as harmonised maritime security initiatives and legal frameworks.

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas, who noted that there was a need for better enforcement of maritime security laws made the call on Tuesday during the Senior Leadership Symposium of the 2019 exercise Obangame Express.

The symposium held at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Ibas, who was represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans, Rear Admiral Begroy Ibe-Enwo, stressed that effective multilateral cooperation among regional partners would go a long way in addressing the maritime security challenges in the Gulf of Guinea.

He said, “Quite undoubtedly, the security situation in the maritime space around the GoG had continued to worsen and its deterioration has remained a matter of serious concern to all of us.

“What is even more disturbing is that many of the activities associated with the evolving threat scenario are directed at the economic lifeline of both littoral and landlocked member states.

“In other words, the scourges of various forms of illegalities, such as sea robbery, piracy, crude oil theft, poaching, human and illicit trafficking of weapons and drugs, among others constitute serious challenges to the development of all countries in our region.

“In prosecuting these threatening factors, the periodic assessment of the efforts is a credible tool. Accordingly, the interrogation of the implementation level of the Yaoundé Code of Conduct, a major regional framework for maritime security, is unarguably overdue at over six years of existence.”

Ibas said studies had shown that the best approach to the provision of maritime security on the seas within the Gulf of Guinea was “cooperative capacity building through collaborative efforts.”

The CNS, however, identified the slow criminal justice system as a limitation to the multilateral integration among maritime enforcement agencies.