Nigeria was delisted from the list of piracy-prone nations by President Muhammadu Buhari.
At the 2023 Presidential Fleet Review in Lagos, the Nigerian Navy held under the subject “Fleet Readiness for National Prosperity,” the President said this.
The President said this shows the Nigerian Navy’s determination to safeguard our resources.
Global piracy
President Muhammadu Buhari added that Nigeria was delisted from the list of piracy-prone nations because piracy had decreased over time.
The International Maritime Bureau removed Nigeria off its list of piracy-prone nations, the President said:
“Technology to secure the marine realm has also supported intelligence-driven ship deployment.
I congratulate the careful arraignment and prosecution of MT HEROIC IDUN, which followed the detection and detention, for attempting to carry crude oil offshore Bonny in August 2022 without authorization.
Marine Safety
The President stated that this proves the Nigerian Navy’s resolve to preserve our country’s resources, as it was accomplished via cooperation with partner warships and increased synergy in combating illegalities in the Gulf of Guinea.
“They had joint exercises such Exercise OBANGAME EXPRESS, Exercise GRAND AFRICA NEMO, and Exercise FLINTLOCK to boost the Navy’s capability for maritime security operations.”
The President also thanked shipbuilding partner nations for donations and military cooperation, noting that the Navy’s indigenous shipbuilding operations are succeeding in line with the nation’s local content development plan.
Our naval engineers built NNS ANDONI, NNS KARADUWA, and NNS OJI.
Keel laying on two Seaward Defence Boats, due in 2024, was done in December 2021.
“This feat is a huge pride to Nigeria and an impressive contribution to national progress.”
“Let me also thank the government and people of Lagos State and other marine stakeholders for their important support to the Navy in organizing this Fleet Review.
“More than half of our marine traffic pass via Lagos ports, which remains a lifeline for the nation’s industry and economy.
Strategic relevance emphasizes the need for good working interactions.
Know this
Last year, Nairametrics stated that the DG of the Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh, proclaimed a huge milestone in the fight against insecurity: no major pirate attack in Nigeria’s waterways since the final quarter of 2021.
After Nigeria finished 2020 as the worldwide pirate hotspot, the FG launched the Deep Blue Project.
President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2021 “Deep Blue” Programme to protect Nigeria’s Gulf of Guinea Area eliminated piracy in its waterways, according to Jamoh.
“We have not had a single piracy strike on our territorial waters since the first quarter of this year, and no attack since the last quarter of 2021. In March 2022, Nigeria was removed from the pirate list for the first time.
“We established what we term Joint Industry Working Group to open up our system to the international community and tell them that Nigeria is not the only place with insecurity or piracy, but they constantly point to Nigeria solely.
Our sector stakeholders now meet monthly to address maritime insecurity in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea through that organization.
He stated that NIMASA, the Nigerian Navy, and the International Coordination Centre in Yaounde, Cameroun, have reached a maritime security accord.
