European Union Commends Nigeria For Winning War Against Piracy In Gulf Of Guinea

·          NIMASA restates commitment to sustainability as Japan, Korea Donate to Deep Blue Project

The European Union (EU) has commended the Federal Government for providing leadership in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) in the war against crime and criminality in the maritime sector, which has yielded desired results.

Senior EU Coordinator for the Gulf of Guinea, Ambassador Nicolas Martinez, made the commendation at the end of a working visit to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) by the EU delegation, which inspected assets under the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure (INSWPI), otherwise known as the Deep Blue Project.

Martinez noted that the EU remained a committed partner to the Gulf of Guinea region and would continue to provide extensive and targeted assistance to strengthen the critical features of the Yaoundé security architecture while cementing the long-standing relationship between member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) like Nigeria and the EU.

“We support Nigeria’s leadership in the regional quest to end piracy and other maritime crimes. You can count on the EU, as we are fully supportive of the Yaounde Infrastructure. We urge Nigeria to share its experience with other countries within the region. It is obvious from the results so far that Nigeria, is winning the war against piracy by providing leadership for other countries,” he said.

Speaking, Director General of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh, noted that the recent removal of Nigeria from the piracy list by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) as a result of collective efforts of various stakeholders within and outside the country.

“It is not yet time to celebrate. Now the focus for us at NIMASA is sustainability. The improved intelligence gathering and sharing among all stakeholders played a major role in the results we are witnessing now.

“Our Deep Blue Project, the SPOMO Act enacted by the National Assembly, the Convictions of criminals under the SPOMO Act, the commitment of the Nigerian Navy and other military arms of the Nigerian Armed Forces, as well as support from the international community, all led to the reduction of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea,” he said.

Speaking further, Jamoh said NIMASA was already looking ahead in its quest to attain sustainability and that the agency was working on an International Maritime Sustainability Conference, which will be hosted in Abuja later in the year, adding that a comprehensive National Maritime Policy for Nigeria was in the pipeline.

Commenting on the Deep Blue Project, Jamoh disclosed that the Japanese Government pledged $2.4 million to support the Deep Blue Project just as the Korean Government has donated a warship to NIMASA to add to the fleet of the Deep Blue Project.

The delegation, comprising Martinez and members of selected EU member states, in the company of the NIMASA DG and senior management staff of the agency, conducted an inspection tour of Deep Blue Project assets at the Nigerian Navy Diving School. They also witnessed an organised drill by the Nigerian Navy in which it showcased some of the assets in action.

The Deep Blue Project, otherwise known as the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, was initiated by the Federal Ministry of Transportation and Ministry of Defence, while being implemented by NIMASA, with the core mandate of securing Nigerian