President Bola Tinubu has asked the heads of navies and coastguards in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) to collaborate on maritime security and propel the GoG towards sustainable development in Africa.
Tinubu, represented by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, made the call at the opening of the 8th edition Symposium of Heads of Navies and Coastguards in the GoG on the maritime environment in Abuja.
The symposium, with the theme “Maritime Security and Sustainable Development in the Gulf of Guinea,” will be hosted by the Nigerian Navy in partnership with the European Union (EU) and the French Navy.
He also acknowledged the lead role being played by the Nigerian Navy in the increase of crude oil production and security in the Niger Delta.
“I urge all stakeholders present to leverage this symposium as a springboard for transformative action, fostering international cooperation on maritime security, and propelling the GoG towards sustainable development in Africa.
“Together, let us forge a secure, prosperous, and sustainable maritime future for our people and future generations.
“Such partnership epitomises a workable model that could engender security for increased sustainable development within the region.
“I therefore pledge my administration’s continuous support for all other laudable objectives of the Nigerian Navy, as well as initiatives that will promote security within the Gulf of Guinea,’’ he said.
Tinubu said that regional and global collaboration was critical in unlocking the immense potential of the blue economy in the GoG region.
He said the Gulf region was being confronted with criminal activities such as piracy, illegal fishing, and smuggling. The threat undermined the region’s stability and safety, preventing it from fully exploiting its maritime resources.
The president said the symposium theme resonated profoundly and reflected the essence of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
According to him, the symposium also aligns with Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy 2050 vision and embodies key aspirations of Africa’s Agenda 2063.
He added that the symposium had come at a time when most countries in GoG were making an effort to harness the enormous blue economy potential within this region.
According to him, it is worth reiterating that the wider GoG has become the main transit hub and facilitator for Africa’s economic growth.
“The region has vast oil and natural gas reserves supplying about 10 percent of global energy demand, with significant quantities consumed in Europe, North America, and Asia.
“The Gulf of Guinea is also a central shipping route for international trade and fishing, with an average of about 1,500 tankers, cargo ships, and fishing vessels transiting the region daily.
“Yet, it is imperative to recognise the untapped potentials within the emerging sectors of the GoG, such as marine biotechnology, offshore renewable energy, deep sea mining, and marine tourism.
“These sectors present unparalleled opportunities for advancing our blue economies, generating employment and contributing to poverty alleviation within the region and Africa at large,’’ he said.
In his remarks, the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla, reiterated the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to ensuring a peaceful, secure, and prosperous Gulf of Guinea (GoG).
He said that the GoG region had been discovered to hold enormous resources, particularly oil and gas.
He added that the sustainable development and exploitation of those resources and the management were critical to Africa’s growth and the global economy.
According to him, there is no gain in saying that Nigeria’s economy depends largely on its oil resources, which is similar to some other Gulf of Guinea nations.
The CNS said that the sea was a fluid environment that required shared commitment.
“In line with our statutory roles, the Nigerian Navy continues to conduct maritime security operations and champion the process for international collaboration and security initiatives for securing the region.
“Despite our efforts and the efforts of other neighbouring countries in the GoG to ensure maritime security for legitimate businesses to thrive, there are still some myriads of challenges.
“These challenges include sea robbery, proliferation of small arms and light weapons, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and human trafficking, just to mention a few.
“Most of these crimes are transnational in nature and require a collective approach involving all navies and coastguards,’’ he said.
Ogalla said the symposium aimed to foster world creation through the development of Africa’s oceans, particularly the GoG nation’s economy, within a secured maritime environment.
He said that the symposium had strived to promote maritime security in the region since its inception in 2015.
“This symposium has always been a veritable tool for us to discuss issues that relate to how well we are implementing the recommendations of the Yaounde Code of Conduct.
“It has always been a veritable tool for us to assess our performance in the area of information sharing, particularly as it affects the regional information system.
“The complexities of maritime security are ever-evolving and transcend national borders, so most of our capabilities in monitoring and sharing of real-time information, as well as for the key maritime offenders, transcend our borders.
“The Interconnectedness of our waters also requires that we strengthen international partnerships for enduring solutions to maritime security,’’ he said.
In his remarks, the Chief of the French Navy, Adm. Nicolas Vaujour, said the symposium provides a platform for discussing increasing challenges of piracy, illegal trafficking, terrorism, and environmental threats in GoG.
Vaujour said the sea was a space for cooperation, competition, and conflict, adding that cooperation between naval forces was key to addressing maritime challenges.
He said the various joint operations and exercises, such as Grand African NEMO and Crocodile Lift, had shown the effectiveness of mutual support and shared information.
He reaffirms France’s commitment to supporting regional efforts and expresses hope that the symposium would lead to concrete initiatives and progress toward securing the region through collaboration and trust.
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