Nigeria no longer on list of pirates prone countries— Navy

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

The Nigerian Navy (NN) has said that the country is no longer on the list of pirates prone countries.

Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja, during a press briefing on the 66th Nigeria Navy week, SS Garba, Chief of Policy and Plans
who represented Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral AZ Gambo, said the International Maritime Bureau report of 3 March 2022 showed that Nigeria has exited the IMB’s
Piracy List.

“This means that Nigeria is no longer in the list of piracy prone countries.
The consequences are enormous and positive for the shipping industry, general
maritime commerce, and the national economy.”

Giving reason for the consideration, he said, the NN has achieved significant milestones in ensuring improved maritime security for the nation’s economic prosperity.

“I am pleased to inform you that there has been successive decline in reported cases of piracy and sea robbery attacks within Nigeria’s maritime domain leading to improved shipping into Nigeria’s waters with attendant positive impact on the nation’s economy.

“This noble achievement was complemented by the International Maritime Bureau Global Piracy Report of 14 July 2021, which indicated the lowest number of piracy and sea robbery against ships in our waters in 27 years. The report was corroborated by the Defence Web, which noted further decline in reported cases of piracy and armed attacks against shipping in Nigerian
waters.

“In terms of strategic collaboration, the NN has continually collaborated with
International and Regional partners. The Service has collaborated with the
International Police especially in the area of information gathering for actionable
intelligence towards combating piracy and other crimes within Nigeria’s maritime
domain.

“Such collaboration led to the arrest of MV CHAYANEE NAREE in
October 2021 for conveying 33kg of cocaine worth 1.5 million US Dollars from
Brazil to Lagos. Also, under the European Union-Coordinated Maritime Presence in
the GoG, the NN collaborates with ships from European Union navies to patrol the
GoG towards addressing security challenges.

“Noteworthy is the first ever Joint Event
on Strengthening Nigeria – EU Cooperation on Maritime Security which held in Lagos on 7 April 2022 with a view to solidifying the close partnership that has developed between the Nigerian Navy, the European Union and EU Member States operating in the region. Allied to these efforts are the annual multi-national maritime exercises such as Ex OBANGAME EXPRESS and Ex GRAND AFRICAN NEMO sponsored by the United States of America and France respectively.”

Speaking further, he said the NN recently participated in training exercises with at least 8 navies namely
French, Brazilian, Royal Navy, Pakistani, Italian, Spanish, US and Canadian Navies.

“Likewise, the NN collaborates with all navies in the Region under the auspices of
the 2013 Yaoundé Code of Conduct, which prioritizes cooperation and information
sharing between navies of Economic Community of West African States and
Economic Community of Central African States. Also, under a new framework for
tackling insecurity in the GoG named the Gulf of Guinea Maritime Collaboration
Forum and Shared Awareness Deconfliction (GOG-MCF/SHADE), the NN plays an active significant role as the lead agency responsible for maritime security in Nigeria.”