As part of its effort to counteract and curtail the proliferation of piracy operations in the Gulf of Guinea, President Muhammadu Buhari has stated that Nigeria will continue to deploy resources to address the menace. The president stated that the government initiated a whopping sum of $195 million, to combat piracy in the region through the Deep Blue Project, in June 2021. He went on to stress that the Gulf of Guinea Commission’s regular meetings were vital for achieving stability and peace in the region.
Buhari made the remarks in Accra, Ghana, at the third Extraordinary Session of the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC) Assembly of Heads of State and Government. During his final speech as president of Nigeria at the assembly in Accra, Ghana, Buhari described the session’s theme, “Building a Safe, Secure, and Prosperous Gulf of Guinea Region for Sustainable Development,” was appropriate and significant in light of the challenges that is currently facing the Gulf of Guinea.
The Assembly adopted policy decisions to revitalize the commission.
Nigeria maintains its dedication to revitalizing the Gulf of Guinea Commission by hosting the 5th Ordinary Summit of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the GGC on October 13, 2022 in Abuja. At this summit, the Assembly adopted policy decisions to revitalize the commission. According to president Buhari, Nigeria places a high priority on the GGC’s smooth operation because of its importance to international security in the Gulf. Such commitments include working to curb piracy, stop the distribution of light weapons, safeguard maritime resources, and curb the influx of undocumented people into the region.
In addition, the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act, 2019, (SPOMO Act) was approved by Nigeria’s National Assembly in June 2019, with the goal of preventing and suppressing piracy, armed robbery, and any other unlawful activities against any ship legitimately operating in the Gulf region. Buhari thanked Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo, who chairs the Assembly, for the invitation, and he expressed his gratitude to outgoing Nigerian GGC Executive Secretary Florence Ukonga and her management team for their hard work and compassion during their tenure.
Others urged to follow Nigeria’s lead in combating maritime insecurity.
He further stressed the importance of the States maintaining their regular commitment to the GGC summits and the extraordinary sessions. These enduring underpinning frameworks provide the States with the opportunity to interact, identify, support policies, and develop capacities in pursuit of peace, security, and prosperity in the Gulf of Guinea region. The President of Nigeria urged other members to follow Nigeria’s lead in combating maritime insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea by passing anti-piracy legislation.
He detailed the country’s efforts thus far to demonstrate its commitment to the GGC’s revitalization and strengthening in order to achieve its goals. In particular, Buhari praised Ukonga for handling the organization’s financial woes with grace and dignity and encouraged member countries to fulfill their financial obligations. The president praised the team for bringing the GGC to a level where it could collaborate with the African Union on sub-regional initiatives concerning maritime security, safety, and sustainable developmental challenges that would have a significant influence on Central and West Africa.
Member nations urged to contribute their financial duty timely.
Moreover, Buhari mentioned that the commission is excited for the joint Africa Naval Exercise of the commission scheduled to take place in Lagos on May 15th, 2023. After multiple virtual meetings since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Akufo-Addo expressed his joy at the physical summit earlier in his opening remarks. He reaffirmed to the delegates the obstacles the commission had to overcome and urged the member nations to contribute their financial duty in a timely manner to enable the panel to carry out its legal mandate.
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Nigeria continuous effort in Gulf of Guinea. – GGC regular meetings were vital for achieving stability and peace in the region. – Express your point of view.
All the countries involve should do all their possible best to maintain peace and order in the gulf of guinea because that is the only way the continent can develop and it will also boost the security architecture of the continent.
Nigeria’s continuous efforts to improve maritime security, through collaboration with other address maritime security challenges, investment in naval capabilities and engagement with international partners, will play an important role in addressing these challenges and ensuring a secure and prosperous Gulf of Guinea.
It is imperative that we support the Gulf of Guinea Commissioners in holding frequent meetings since these gatherings are required for establishing order and peace in the area, which will be excellent for Africa.
I feel other countries and not just Nigeria should send out troops to help Guinea combat all the problems they are facing and that can make the entire thing go faster.
Activities in the Gulf of Guinea have long been affected by piracy operation. Buh with the strengthened effort of Nigeria and other countries we might very soon see a reduction in the illegal act in the region.
All country should all come together to help guinea tackle the problem they are facing finding peace in the region should be what they should be after
To help the agency fulfil its constitutional responsibility, I believe it is important that the member nations recognise the challenges it faced and act swiftly to meet their monetary obligations to the organisation.
The aid we give to Gulf of Guinea is meant to foster and maintain good relationship with other African countries. It shows we care about our neighbours and rendering help brings about collaboration for the future.
It is very essential that the Gulf of Guinea Commission meeting is held to reiterate the importance of security and to maintain stability and peace in this region and to emphasize on the need of each countries affected to sign the anti-piracy law. Nigeria is doing well to ensure that the meeting is held and also pledging huge sum of money towards it.
The government of Nigeria led by the President Mohammad Buhari is doing well by making sure that Gulf Guinea Commission is held continually and supplying resource and large sum of money in combating piracy along this region. The meeting is very important to the sustainance of stability and peace in this region.
Nigeria continuous effort in Gulf of Guinea. Peace and harmony is what the world needs right now. We have to stop, we need to support each other
I think member nations should understand the agency’s difficulties and quickly pay their bills to enable it execute its constitutional duty.