Gulf of Guinea Security: the Abuja Declaration
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
VOL.7 NO.4. 2019 GULF OF GUINEA SECURITY: THE ABUJA DECLARATION GLOBAL MARITIME SECURITY CONFERENCE Over 80 countries in attendance. Navies/maritime law enforcement agencies of GoG States to engage in regular joint operations with international partners. GoG States to prioritise ratification, implementation of regional, continental and international conventions. GoG States to engage more with local communities, seafarers, private stakeholders. International community to treat illegally harvested resources in the GoG, including oil and fishery, like T FOR NO ‘blood diamonds’. SALE OUTSTANDING HOUSE JOURNAL OF THE YEAR 2019 CONTENTS THE VOYAGE TEAM Editor -in-ChiEf ISICHEI OSAMGBI EDITOR VINCENT OBIA VOL.7 NO.4. 2019 MANAGING EDITOR GULF OF GUINEA SECURITY: PHILIP KYANET THE ABUJA DECLARATION ASSOCIATE EDITOR GLOBAL MARITIME OSAGIE EDWARD SECURITY CONFERENCE CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Obiageli Chuma-ugbO Over 80 countries in attendance. Navies/maritime law enforcement SENIOR CORRESPONDENTS agencies of GoG States to engage in regular joint operations with ALAYAKI GANIYU international partners. to prioritise ratification, ANDEM ANTHONY GoG States continental implementation of regional, and international conventions. KUMUYI OLUWAFEMI GoG States to engage moreprivate with local communities, seafarers, stakeholders. International community to treat CORRESPONDENTS illegally harvested resourcesfishery, in likethe GoG, including oil and T FOR ‘blood diamonds’. NWAOGU FAITHWIN NO SALE OUTSTANDING HOUSE JOURNAL OF THE CHINWEIZU CHIDI AMUTA YEAR 2019 PHOTOGRAPHY PAUL OCHEME IN THIS EDITION EDITORIAL BOARD 04 CEO’S DESK 34 FEATURE CHAIRMAN NIMASA: More Than A National Nigeria To Mainstream ISICHEI OSAMGBI Agency Maritime Sector For Economic MEMBERS Development – Amaechi VICTOR EGEJURU 05 Editor-in-ChiEf EMMANUEL ALFRED We are like the Colossus of 36 CSR PHILIP KYANET Rhodes Partnering with the Youth for Enduring Results AMOS KUJE 06 COVER PETER AGBAMINOJA Gulf of Guinea Security: 41 CSR ABDULMUMUNI IDRIS The Abuja declaration NIMASA Donates Relief Materials PAUL AGIM to Flood Victims in Rivers JUDE NJOKU 17 COMMUNIQUE OSAGIE EDWARD Communique For The Global 42 HEALTH OBINNA OBI Maritime Security Conference Global Handwashing Day 2019: VINCENT OBIA (Secretary) 2019 Clean Hands for All 18 MEMOIR 43 NEWS THE VOYAGE is a publication Seaworthiness and Load Line ‘Active Women Involvement Key of the Nigerian Maritime Implementation to Growth of Maritime Industry’ Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) 4 Burma Road, Apapa, Lagos. 24 INSIGHT 44 NEWS www.nimasa.gov.ng IMO Council: Nigeria Fought a Maritime Security: Nigeria Takes [email protected] Good Fight Delivery of Special Mission Vessel All correspondence to the Editor-in-Chief, The Voyage, 27 NEWS 46 NEWS 4, Burma Road, Apapa, Lagos. WISTA Donates Speedboat to Nigerian Wins Global Maritime +2348033141883 Fisherwomen Essay Competition ISSN: 2006-5124 28 PHOTO NEWS 50 NEWS All information and opinion contained in this publication should #GMSC2019 OTL 2019: Dakuku Advocates not be construed as representing Dedicated Cargo Ports the official position of the agency. 32 NEWS Furthermore, the agency accepts IMO Council Election: ‘Nigeria 55 NEWS no liability whatsoever for any loss Gained Deeper Insight into IMB Reports 30% Piracy Drop or damage resulting from opinion, Global Politics’ as Nigeria’s Deep Blue Project errors or omissions affecting any Kicks in part of the content. 33 NEWS NIMASA to Fast-track Maritime 58 CIOTA MEDIA CONSULTANT: Security Architecture CIoTA to Professionalise Transport DESIGN + PRINT Administration in Nigeria Macgraw Media Limited E-mail: [email protected] THEVOYAGE 2019 Q4 03 Ceo’S DESK Dr. Dakuku Peterside, DG/CEO NIMASA NIMASA: More Than A National Agency lthough we are termed Nigerian threatened to roll back great strides the region had Maritime Administration and Safety been making to establish the Blue Economy as the Agency (NIMASA), a name that main lever for transforming the socioeconomic and suggests we operate strictly as a industrial fortunes of the people of the area. A local body, still, our functions are We had specialised experts who dropped ideas to supranational. We run our statutory help deal with the security challenges on a long-term internal operations of the maritime basis. For instance, the gathering resolved that states industry, alright. But we also look beyond to address along the Gulf of Guinea and their global partners international concerns that affect Nigeria and our should prioritise training and capacity for relevant relationships with the outside world. stakeholders in maritime authorities, law enforcement That professional and patriotic obligation led NIMASA agencies, and navies. to organise and host the Global Maritime Security Another surprise that came forth from the Conference (GMSC) on behalf of Nigeria and the international conference was the resolution that the Gulf of Guinea between October 7 and 9, 2019 in Gulf of Guinea states and the international community Abuja, the Nigerian capital. We held it in conjunction should set up measures to ban illegal mining of resources with the Federal Ministry of Transportation and the from the region by labelling their proceeds like the Nigerian Navy. Some 80 countries and navies from infamous blood diamonds. It equally resolved that all over the globe were represented at the hugely countries in the region should explore the possibility successful event. of designated maritime courts to handle cases of It came in the wake of reported incidents of fatal sea robbery, piracy and other maritime offences to security breaches in the Gulf of Guinea. Such occurrences ensure quick dispensation of cases. The conference also called for the sensitisation of WORDS ON MARBLE the judiciary on critical legislations to support the maritime reforms brought up during the three-day Nigeria has taken the initiative by talks. The GMSC effectively marked the transition of convening this global conference NIMASA from a local to a global Agency. The well- to examine the maritime security received international conference, with its record challenges in the region. Nigeria large turn-out of professionals, naval chiefs, and top government personnel, not only reflects NIMASA’s is keen to drive this initiative capability for organisation, but also indicates that the because it is a significant agency is capable of excelling both at the domestic scene and on the global front in its commitment to destination in the international advancing Nigeria’s global maritime goals. and domestic shipping map. – Dr. Dakuku PeterSiDe Dakuku Peterside 04 THEVOYAGE 2019 Q4 FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Isichei Osamgbi We are like the Colossus of Rhodes he Colossus of Rhodes was one the meeting, with resolutions that promise of the Seven Wonders of the to fundamentally change the Gulf’s maritime Ancient World. At 110 feet high, life. It’s our cover story. We call it the Abuja T it overlooked the harbour of Rhodes Declaration on Security in the Gulf of Guinea in Greece around 300 BC. It had Maritime Domain. a massive stature that was thought In this flagship, you will come across answers to straddle the harbour in a symbolic posture from the experts to the long-standing maritime to suggest that it had supreme control over security challenges in our coastal region. land and sea. Also for your enjoyment are features on Nigeria’s At the Nigerian Maritime Administration leading efforts to ensure the implementation of and Safety Agency (NIMASA), we are also IMO’s Ballast Water Management Convention, the demonstrating that we are not confined to search for an effective maritime transport policy, the waters in Nigeria only. We are bonded to and NIMASA’s Corporate Social Responsibility global activities on land and sea also. In other (CSR) initiative involving distribution of words, we are, like the Colossus of Rhodes, educational materials to schools across Nigeria’s covering both the waters and terra firma to six geopolitical zones. So, who says NIMASA is deliver first-class services to our fatherland. too marine-minded to notice that education That is what this edition of The Voyage needs its intervention? magazine is proving this quarter. We also serve you our traditional features: We offer a comprehensive coverage of NIMASA’s news, health tips, photo splash, etc. excellent outing as hosts of the international Enjoy The Voyage! conference on marine security in the Gulf of Guinea. Some 80 nations and navies came for IsicheiOsamgbi OUR VISION OUR MISSION To be the leading maritime To achieve and sustain safe, secure, administration in Africa, advancing shipping, cleaner ocean and enhance Nigeria’s global maritime goals. maritime capacity in line with global best practices towards Nigeria’s economic development. THEVOYAGE 2019 Q4 05 COVER GULF OF GUINEA SECURITY: THE ABUJA DECLARATION Trying to make a huge swathe of Africa’s waters safe, Nigeria gathers the world to deliberate on measures to eliminate lurking threats. Vincent Obia, Ganiyu Alayaki and Femi Kumuyi write 06 THEVOYAGE 2019 Q4 COVER f there had been a better time to have sometimes been wrongly classified as piracy. But bring together stakeholders in the the number of attacks dropped in the first quarter of global maritime community to take 2019, from 22 a year before to 14 in the first quarter, a position on festering insecurity in what the London-based maritime security tracker I in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG), few said was the result of “the Nigerian Navy’s increased people certainly