Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr Dayo Mobereola (left) and Research Director; Director, Africa Programme, Chatham House, Dr Alex Vines OBE during a visit by the NIMASA Director General to the Chatham House in London
A partnership to further deliberate on the security of the Gulf of Guinea has been agreed by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA and the renowned policy institute, Chatham House London.
Both organisations have agreed that the issue of Maritime Security in the Gulf of Guinea should be raised at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) taking place this August in New York where emphasis will be made on the progress made by NIMASA in combating piracy and sea robbery in the region.
According to NIMASA, the decision was arrived at during a session between Director General, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, and the Director of the Africa Programme at Chatham House, Dr. Alex Vines, during a visit by the NIMASA DG accompanied the Nigeria’s Alternate Permanent Representative at the International Maritime Organization, Mr. Bwala William.
The agency disclosed that it has commenced the collaboration with Chatham House to convene a meeting of international stakeholders from both the public and private sector in Nigeria, with the aim to developing a position paper on maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.
Speaking shortly after the meeting, the NIMASA DG emphasised the importance of effective international partnership to sustain security in the Gulf of Guinea.
Dr. Mobereola said :“We had a very fruitful discussion with the team at Chatham House. The decision to engage the UN Security Council is to ensure they are well informed about the progress made so far in terms of security in the Gulf of Guinea.
“We also need an independent analysis of the security situation in the Gulf of Guinea and how best to transform the gains in terms of enhanced security, into tangible economic benefits such as reduction in the cost of all Nigerian Bound freight and issues bothering on payment of war risk insurance premium for Nigerian bound vessels. The coming on board of Chatham House will serve as a catalyst in developing our Blue Economy.”
