SPECIAL REPORT
Against the backdrop of the upcoming Global Maritime Security Conference to be held in Nigeria,soon, SHOLA FADEYI in this special report , explores the benefits of the Forum for the stakeholders and the Gulf of Guinea countries, particularly the impact on checking piracy and criminalities on their waters.
NIMASA DG, Dr Dakuku Peterside
Apart from the fact that Maritime, has historically been global in nature, because seas , which are an integral part of shipping run across continents , while vessels also serve as linkage , as they carry goods from one country to the other, it has also, nevertheless been a backbone of every economy, because of its importance.
While seas are means of transport ,across the world, the vast assets which they contain , especially , waters in the Gulf of Guinea , a sub regional area to which Nigeria belongs , have made them to be almost indispensable to governments and economies in all countries of the world, particularly Nigeria , where over 86 per cent of its imports and exports are conveyed through oceans.
Global Maritime Security Conference
Little wonder, that maritime issues particularly that of security , or insecurity, bothering on crime and piracy on waters, have become matters of global dimension and concern which have necessitated the existence of international , regional and sub regional bodies , as well as organization of annual seminars and conferences to proffer solutions to such maritime challenges.
Such Conference, which is partly meant to serve as an avenue for pragmatic solutions to the challenges of maritime insecurity and piracy in the Gulf of Guinea(GoG) is the Global Maritime Security Conference (GMSC) , with the theme, Improving Maritime Security in the Gulf of Guinea – Together We Win, to be hosted by the Federal Government, at the International Conference Centre, in Abuja from October 7 to 9 . 2019.
However, the fact that the Conference is focused primarily on the GoG has demonstrated the extent of the security issues in that part of the maritime hemisphere, where Nigeria has been a very active player , the importance of the Area to the countries in the West and Central African sub region , nay the whole world, and the resolve to rid it of criminalities and acts of piracy.
Aims
The Conference, aims to facilitate a clearer understanding of the challenges of maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea region and develop tailored solutions as well as coordinate efforts at strengthening regional and international collaborations to extinguish maritime threats in the region.
It is also out to define the precise nature and scope of coordinated regional responses to maritime insecurity, vis-à-vis intervention supports from external actors/partners, evaluate the relevance and impacts of the various interventions already initiated , to tackle maritime insecurity, in the Gulf of Guinea, with a view to revising and adapting them to address the current challenges.
Target
The Conference is also targeting policy harmonization, and effective implementation through regional integration, and cooperation as principal method for delivering effective and efficient security in the region, tackling threats to maritime security, strategize alternative approach to prevent cyber security attack and other forms of emerging maritime security threats.
NIMASA’s Efforts on Insecurity in GoG
Undoubtedly , almost all maritime parts of the world are indeed beset of security issues in various degrees, but those of the Gulf of Guinea (GoG ) are indeed of great magnitude , perhaps reducing with time, due to the various measures that have been adopted to tackle them, by the current management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) , led by Dr Dakuku Peterside as Director General.
For instance, it was out of the need to tackle the maritime piracy albatross in the GoG , that made the NIMASA management to initiate an anti- piracy Bill in 2017, and successfully mid wifed it through the National Assembly, to finally get the nod of the President Buhari ,who gave his assent to it this year .
Nigeria’s Commitment
The importance of the Gulf of Guinea particularly to Nigeria, which has been partly demonstrated by the huge investments the country, through NIMASA has made in ridding it of crimes, has also been shown in the personal interest President Muhammadu Buhari has in the Area.This is why , at the just concluded Tokyo International Conference, for African Development, he sought the support of his Japanese counterpart ,Prime Minister Shinto Abbe to fight piracy and illegal fishing in the GoG.
Additionally, to lend credence to the commitment of Nigeria and the world in enhancing security in the GoG , the NIMASA DG at a special symposium organised at the headquarters of the International Maritime Organsation (IMO) in London recently , declared that the GoG countries were facing serious security challenges, that had affected their economies severely and, therefore, needed global support and cooperation to tackle the problem.
Dr Peterside intimated his audience at the event , of Nigeria’s commitment to host the GMSC and the fact that the conference will afford the international community ,a platform to develop actionable strategies to put an end to piracy and other security threats in the African geological and maritime region.
Significance of GoG
Indeed the global and stakeholders attention should be focused on the GoG , because according to experts , it occupies a strategic location in international seaborne trade. It is home to two regional economic blocs: Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), comprising 26 countries.
It is thus , seen as a resource provider and critical contributor to national growth and prosperity of the nations lining its coasts and even those inward and with no shared boundaries, due to the access it grants to them.
Also, the Gulf of Guinea has been the epicenter of economic, political, military and cultural medley,while it is home to one of the world’s most important infrastructure: undersea intercontinental communication cables, absolutely vital to global communications. 70% of Africa’s oil production comes from the Gulf of Guinea and holds about 5% of the world’s total proven reserves
The region’s waterways were a key navigational route for international commerce, connecting the Far East to countries in the North and South of the Atlantic. It is the hub of extensive Trans-Atlantic trade linking Africa with Europe and the Americas.
Importance of GMSC
Consequently, the importance that has been attached to the GoG globally in all its ramifications also underscores the relevance of the GMSC , the personalities who will grace the occasion , the richness of the topics that will be discussed therein, the spillover effect of the event on the member countries and the benefits that will accrue , even to the stakeholders who will be in attendance
This is just why President Buhari has been scheduled to give the keynote address while other stakeholders expected at the conference are, the IMO Secretary General, Africa Union(AU) Commission Chairperson, and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) President among other key personalities in West and Central Africa including Nigeria.
Also expected at the conference are: Relevant Government Ministries And Agencies, Navy and Coast Guards Regulatory bodies, Maritime Lawyers and Professional Insurance firms, Banks and Finance Sector, Oil and Gas sector, High Level Industry Practitioners, Ship Owners, among others.
Topics for Discussions
However, the Thematic Sessions that will make the Conference to be worth the while include Maritime Security; Legal Framework and Regulatory Issues in the Gulf of Guinea; Maritime Governance and the Blue Economy; Technology Deployment in Maritime Security: Emerging Issues ; Maritime Security: Moving Beyond Policy Statements to Taking Collective Actions; and Balancing Geopolitical, Economic and Geostrategic interests in Maritime Security .Initiatives.
Others are Maritime Security: Evolving Roles, Models, Missions and Capabilities; Future of Maritime Security: Trends, Emerging Threat Vectors and Capability Requirements; Ensuring Maritime Security in the Gulf of Guinea: Effective Regional Cooperation and Roles on International Partners ;Maritime Security partnerships: and The Roles of Civil Societies; Harmonized Standard Operating Procedures (HSOP) a model for cooperation.
Eligible Attendees
Those who can attend the Conference include relevant government ministries and agencies; chief executives and trade executives; banks and finance sector; shipping logistics; regulatory bodies; industry stakeholders and professionals; high level industry practitioners ;support services; policy makers and researchers, Navy and coast guards and classification societies.
Others are oil and gas sector; ship broker, ship managers and agents; maritime lawyers and professionals, consultancy and industry experts; ship owners and charterers; marine support services ;institutions and nongovernmental organizations; insurance firms, international continental and regional bodies, national owners / charterers and oil companies and foreign missions and diplomats among others.
Already, the NIMASA , which is coordinating the organization of the all- important conference has continued to put all the necessary machinery in place to ensure the success of the event even as it has said that it has given the website for registration and other information sought on the conference as visit: www.globalmaritimesecurityconf.com