With the economy of many coastal states, the Maritime Sector has always played a significant role. The Gulf of Guinea (GoG), for example, has survived numerous trans-shipping and fishing activities that have had massive developmental impacts on the economies of the GoG countries. However, these developments are confronted by various Maritime and Transnational Organized Crimes (MTOCS) such as human trafficking or smuggling, money laundering, illegal bunkering, piracy, terrorism at sea, Illegal Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IUUF) and others. Resultantly, ensuring a safe maritime environment to trade along the gulf remains the focus of the GoG governments.
In March 2022, Nigeria got excluded from the Global List of Piracy-prone countries in an announcement made by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) owing to the Nigerian Navy Personnel’s commitment and dedication; after Exercise Obangame Express 2023, Nigeria would celebrate a year of its exclusion. Exercise Obangame Express 2023, the largest multinational maritime exercise in Africa was hosted by the Nigerian Navy with support from the US Africa Command and US Naval Forces Europe and Africa.
Nigeran Navy launched Operation Dakatar Da Barawo (OPDDB).
This year’s edition welcomed 32 countries from the Gulf of Guinea and beyond, with the sole aim of gathering to “improve regional cooperation, information-sharing practices, and tactical interdiction expertise.” This assembly was brought about by the Global Piracy Report of the IMB which affirmed that Nigeria recorded its lowest number of piracy and sea robbery against ship attacks in almost three decades. This was made possible by naval and maritime security investments through initiatives like the Falcon Eye Maritime Domain Awareness System and several new platforms acquisition.
Also, there is an ongoing construction of two new Seaward Defense Boats (SDBs) by the Naval Dockyard Limited in Lagos. Prior to this construction, in April 2022, the Nigerian Navy launched one of its most massive operations in many years called Operation Dakatar Da Barawo (OPDDB), with the exact goal of eliminating crude oil theft and vandalism in Niger Delta. The operation had its launch in partnership with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) and has enforced the seizure of over N80 billion worth of stolen petroleum products as well as many hundreds of arrests.
Naval Staff Chief pledged determination to achieve the force’s objectives.
Additionally, the steady decline of oil production in early months of 2022 has been reversed as there have been a steady rise since October 2022. The Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, expressed excitement at the announcement of a noteworthy improvement in the production of crude oil, with acknowledgement of both Nigerian and international communities. The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, affirmatively asserted his determination to achieve this objective, expressing gratitude to the President for provision of resources to record the significant progress in the fight against maritime piracy and criminality.
Through the Yaounde Architecture and Gulf of Guinea maritime safety and security coordinating mechanisms which cover 19 countries, the Nigerian Navy was able to alert and deploy the Equatorial Guinea Ship for seizure of the vessel. After the arrest and further investigations by the Government of Equatorial Guinea, owners of the ship were ordered to pay a substantial fine and released to the Nigerian Navy to face due justice in the country. A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt is currently trying the case.
Country makes efforts to boost regional & multinational cooperation.
According to experts in the industry, the hosting of Obangame Express by Nigeria is proof of the determination of the Nigerian Navy to improve regional and multinational cooperation for achievement of its objectives of securing the maritime environment in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea. The CNS and Naval Headquarters in the same vein hosted the African Union, delegations from the European Union, the United States Navy Office of Security Cooperation, Defense Academy of UK among others.
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Nigerian Navy reaffirms commitment to country – Nigeria has been removed from Global List of Piracy-prone countries. – Express your point of view.
The Nigerian Navy really shows they love the country.
I am happy they reaffirm it again. It shows dedication and love for ones country.
The Global Pirate Report of the IMB, which said that Nigeria experienced its lowest number of piracy and sea robbery against ship attacks in nearly three decades, served as the impetus for this gathering.
The owners of the ship were released to the Nigerian Navy to face prosecution in the nation after their arrest and additional investigations by the government of Equatorial Guinea. They were also required to pay a sizable fine.
The Gulf of Guinea (GoG), for example, has been able to withstand a large number of trans-shipping and fishing activities, both of which have had a significant and positive impact on the economic growth of the nations that border the GoG.
The maritime industry has consistently been an important component of the economies of many states that are located along the coast.
Nigerian Navy reaffirms commitment to country. Since they have reaffirm they need to do the needful and also make sure that they measure up
illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing as well as other illegal fishing practices. As a consequence of this, the primary concern of the nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GoG) continues to be the maintenance of a secure maritime environment for commercial activity.
Seeing that Nigeria is excluded from the piracy prone list demonstrates the efforts taken so far by our navy. I hope they could strengthen the efforts more.
With help from the U.S. Africa Command and the U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa, the Nigerian Navy hosted the biggest international naval exercise ever held on the African continent.
I applaud the govt for making it achieve this objective; for provision of resources to record the significant progress in the fight against maritime piracy and criminality.
Numerous states along the coast have relied heavily on the marine industry for decades.
The expenditures made in naval and maritime security, such as the Falcon Eye Maritime Domain Awareness System, as well as the acquisition of many additional platforms, made this feasible.
Yaounde Architecture and Gulf of Guinea marine safety and security coordination procedures include a total of 19 countries between them.
Nigeria’s willingness to host Obangame Express is evidence of the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to bolstering regional and transnational collaboration in order to achieve its goals of securing Nigeria’s maritime environment.
It’s a testament to the hard work of our navy that Nigeria has been taken off the list of countries at risk of being attacked by pirates. There needs to be a greater push for success.
The Gulf of Guinea (GoG) has endured many trans-shipping and fishing activities, which have boosted the economies of its bordering nations.
The work of the Naval personels in Nigeria and all the countries that has water boundary can not be over emphasis.For the Nigeria navy to archived this height,it is a good omen for them.
The Nigerian Navy are really doing a great job and have also promised to do more.Nigeria has now been removed from Global List of Piracy-prone countries.
It show our strengthen of work hard since we we’re removed from Global List of Piracy prone countries. It show the hard work of our navy force
The removal Nigeria from Global List of Piracy-prone countries is a prove that the Nigerian Navy are doing great jobs and the Maritime sector of is active. They should keep it up and do more.
Great Stuff from the navy