Maritime Security: Piracy Declines In Gulf Of Guinea, Says IMB Q2 2021 Report   

·      Acknowledges 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) and the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, also called the Deep Blue Project.

This was contained in its recently released second quarter (Q2) 2021 report on the global reduction of piracy in 27 years in Nigeria and the GoG region.

The report noted that the number of kidnappings in the Gulf of Guinea in the second quarter of 2021 was the lowest since Q2 of 2019.

While 33 incidents of piracy were reported in the last quarter of 2020, six cases were reported in the second quarter of 2021. The IMB report also disclosed that the number of kidnapped crew in the region declined from 50 in the last quarter 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 the Federal Government to tackle the challenge of piracy in the region, adding that reporting all incidents to the Regional Authorities and IMB PRC would ensure that 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.

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

While ascribing the feat to the concerted efforts put in place by the GoG countries, he canvassed a more holistic approach in quelling 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 a consistent reduction of criminal cases in the region, Nigeria will be engaging the international maritime community soon intending to remove the War Risk Premium charged on vessels calling Nigerian ports.

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 crime and criminality.