The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) on Tuesday pledged to provide logistics and formulate policies that would sustaine piracy decline in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG).
Dr Bashir Jamoh, Director General of NIMASA made this known at the 5th Plenary of the Gulf of Guinea Maritime Collaboration Forum/Shared Awareness and Deconfliction (GoG-MCF/SHADE).
The forum had the theme: ”Enduring and Sustainable Security”.
Jamoh noted that in ensuring its sustainability, collaboration was of essence among member countries so that each country boundaries and limitations would be considered to prevent any form of conflict.
According to Jamoh, today’s regional forum will be a place to share mutual maritime concerns, jointly face the threat and together create the mitigations.
He assured Nigeria, through NIMASA and the Nigerian Navy, that they stand ready as co-chair of the SHADE to continue to provide every necessary support in collaboration with the Interregional Coordination Centre (ICC).
He said that they would nurture this baby through its early teething challenges till the SHADE matures with results that all would be proud of within the region.
“Two years ago, we connected virtually with a dark, sad and persistent cloud of blue crimes enveloping the region but today we gather with the cloud opening and we are seeing the sun gradually shining through.
“No one can easily forget the frequent reports of attacks on ships and the kidnapping of seafarers in the GoG in 2019 and 2020 when they reached their peak. And the attendant negative economic effect on the seaborne trade in the region.
“While it is important to recognise success so far made, the future must however be the focus.
“Our deliberations over the next two days must be forward-looking even as it seeks to provide specific ways to maintain the current momentum, offer concrete solutions to ensure sustainability and build on success,” he said.
He said that more remains to be done in terms of the legal framework to enable the SHADE’s existence; the legal finish needed by more countries for better and seamless transfer agreements and harmonisation of laws and the sharing of information.
“The SHADE must be nurtured to remain a force for good. As members we owe a collective duty to this forum to keep its dialogue robust and guard it from slipping into complacency as to become a toothless bulldog.
“Our SHADE must be strengthened through cooperation, coordination, collaboration and communication. Security success can never be solitary achievements,” he said.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo said that GoG SHADE would offer a veritable platform for GoG nations and other partner nations to congregate and cooperate to address the piracy challenge facing the region.
Gambo represented by Rear Admiral Garba Saidu, Chief of Policy and Plans, said challenges member countries are experiencing should not deter their collaborative efforts towards reinforcing their existing initiatives to advance and coordinate maritime security activities.
“Much has been achieved but there is still room for greater collaboration in the areas of information sharing, increased presence of naval assets and strengthened legal frameworks among the GoG nations as well as international partners.
“The safety and security of shipping in the GoG is a vital enabler in the recovery process of global economy and trade suffered due to COVID 19 pandemic. It is therefore imperative for us to succeed in this drive,” he said.
Other stakeholders present at the 5th plenary are Dr Paul Adalikwu, Secretary General, Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), Admiral Narciso Fastudo, Director, Interregional Coordination Centre (ICC-Yaounde), Rear Admiral Solomon Agada, Co-Chair, SHADE-GoG/Maritime Collaboration Forum.
The GoG collaboration forum SHADE was established by Nigeria and 22 countries of the ICC in July 2021.
The forum is to implement more effective operational counter piracy cooperation between navies bother regional and international as well as the shipping industry and reporting centres of the Yaounde Code of Conduct, MDAT GoG and the International Maritime Bureau.
