NIMASA Wants Sustenance In Fight Against Piracy

The Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh, has called for efforts to sustain the fight against piracy, illegal fishing and other maritime crimes in the nation’s waters and Gulf of Guinea.
Jamoh also re-emphasised the commitment of the agency in ensuring that the nation maximises its blue ocean potentials.
Speaking at the 3rd Nigerian Admiralty Law Colloquium, themed: “Beyond Maritime Security Threats In The Gulf Of Guinea: Harnessing The Gains Of A Secured Maritime Domain”, Jamoh said the theme undoubtedly encompassed a plethora of contemporary issues within the Nigerian maritime domain, which also covers the primary elements of NIMASA’s statutory mandate.
“It is gratifying to note that events have moved so rapidly that so soon after a dark period when all discourse centred around insecurity and piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, we are today sufficiently emboldened to move the trend of engagement to another level as we consider the vital issue of harnessing the gains of a secured maritime domain.
“Again, it is essential to note that a secured maritime domain is vital to the development and advancement of the world economy. Without effective maritime security measures, our economic growth will be hampered by the threats posed by piracy, illegal fishing, and other criminal activities.
“It is therefore imperative that we focus continually on establishing and maintaining a safe and secure maritime environment.
“This colloquium provides us with a unique opportunity to discuss the strategies, policies, and practices necessary to tap the full potential of the Nigerian maritime space, while sustaining the climate of security necessary for development”, he said.
He stated that over the last three years now, the agency has swung into action by providing robust maritime security architecture, with enhanced maritime domain awareness, capacity and improved law enforcement ability.
This, he said, has resulted in a drastic decline in piracy and other maritime offences in the Nigerian waters and the Gulf of Guinea and has provided the benchmark for member States in the Gulf of Guinea and other relevant stakeholders to develop innovative strategies for the sustenance of maritime security in the region.