Vincent Toritseju
Lagos — The Nigerian government through the Ministry of Transport, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Ports Authority, Marine Police Interpol, the oil industry, and shipping industry have formed a Joint Working Group, JWG, to accelerate efforts to tackle maritime security threats on the Gulf of Guinea, GoG.
The group is also comprised of some international shipping groups like International Chambers Shipping, BIMCO, INTERCARGO, INTERTANKO and the Nigerian Shipowners’ Association.
The Joint Working Group was established in May 2020 in order to facilitate coordination between government and industry and align efforts to deter and respond to incidents of piracy and armed robbery in Nigerian territorial waters and EEZ.
The NIMASA/Industry Working Group (NIWG) is the first coordinated effort between industry and the Nigerian Government (represented by NIMASA, Ministry of Transport, Nigerian Navy, Interpol, Marine Police, Customs and Nigerian Ports Authority) to address the issues of maritime security.
In a statement signed by Head of Public Relation of NIMASA, Mr/ Philip Kyanet, said that interaction will be facilitated between the stakeholders, pursuing projects through mutual collaboration, and enhancing transparency between government and industry in addressing the shared goal of achieving the permanent prevention of piracy and armed robbery in the region.
By extension, ensuring the safety of seafarers and shipping operations in the region will enable Nigeria and other coastal states in the Eastern Gulf of Guinea to realize the full potential of their Blue Economies.
It also stated that NIMASA is now working directly with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in developing a National Maritime Security Strategy, Nigeria has formally endorsed industry’s Best Management Practices West Africa (BMP WA) guidance and, following the entry into force of, Nigeria’s Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act, 2019 (SPOMO Act), prosecutions are underway.
