MARITIME SECURITY: PIRACY DECLINES IN GULF OF GUINEA – IMB Q2, 2021 REPORT

· Applauds Effects of Nigeria’s Deep Blue Project in GoG

• We Will Not Rest On Our Oars – NIMASA DG

The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has given credence to Nigeria’s efforts in combating piracy in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG), including the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure also called the Deep Blue Project of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

This formed part of its second Quarter 2021 report on global reduction of piracy in 27 years in Nigeria, including the GoG region.

The Assistant Director, Public Relations Unit of
NIMASA, Mr. Osagie Edward, made this known to Journalists.

The report notes; “the number of kidnapping in the Gulf of Guinea in the second quarter of 2021 is the lowest since second quarter of 2019.

“While 33 incidents of piracy were reported in the last quater of 2020, six cases were reported in the second quarter of 2021. The IMB report also stressed that the number of kidnapped crew in the region also declined from 50 in the last quater of 2020 to 10 in the second quarter of 2021”.

While IMB welcomes reduced piracy and armed robbery activity in the Gulf of Guinea, Michael Howlett a Director at IMB commended efforts by Nigerian Government in tackling the challenge of piracy in the region , adding that reporting all incidents to the Regional Authorities and IMB PRC will ensure seafarers maintain pressure against pirates.

“Bringing together maritime response authorities through initiatives – like Nigeria’s Deep Blue Project and Gulf of Guinea Maritime Collaboration Forum – will continue and strengthen knowledge sharing channels and reduce risk to seafarers in the region.” He said.

Responding to the report, the Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh, described IMB report as a welcome development, giving assurance that the Agency would not rest on it oars in ensuring zero tolerance for piracy in the Nigerian waters and the Gulf of Guinea.

While ascribing the feat to concerted efforts put in place by the GoG countries, the NIMASA DG called for a more holistic approach in quelling the incidences of piracy in the region.

“Matters concerning maritime security are everybody’s business, as no country has immunity against insecurity and piracy related offences. Crime is usually a step ahead of every organised society, hence the need to step up our game through continuous synergy and enhanced information sharing in the West and Central Africa sub-region”, Jamoh said.

He further observed that with consistent reduction of criminal cases in the region, Nigeria will engage international maritime community in future, with the intention of removing the War Risk Premium charged on vessels calling at Nigerian ports.

Recall that on June 10, 2021, President Muhammadu Buhari, commissioned the Deep Blue Assets, geared towards deterring all forms of illegalities on the nation’s territorial waters. This is in addition to the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences (SPOMO) Act, signed into law on June 24, 2019, to prosecute and punish criminals.