The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to collaborate with the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC) to combat piracy and unlawful maritime crimes.
Tuggar disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday by Alkasim Abdulkadir, Special Assistant to the Minister, during the 6th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of State and Government of GGC in Accra, Ghana.
“The importance and significance of the Gulf of Guinea to Africa cannot be overemphasized in promoting a safe and secure region,” Tuggar said.
He added, “To this end, Nigeria takes this opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to the work and mandate of the GGC. As a demonstration of our commitment, Nigeria’s National Assembly passed the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act in 2019 to prevent and suppress piracy, armed robbery, and other unlawful acts against vessels operating in the Gulf Region.”
Tuggar highlighted Nigeria’s significant resource deployment towards tackling piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, noting that since 2022, no incidents of piracy have been recorded in Nigeria’s territorial waters.
Nigeria aligns with this year’s Summit theme, “Building a Secure and Prosperous Gulf of Guinea Region for Sustainable Development,” and remains committed to the goals, objectives, and vision of the Commission, supporting the work of the Secretariat.
He emphasized the importance of harmonizing effective mechanisms backed by legally binding agreements to address criminality, bunkering, illegal trade migration, and unreported fishing.
“The internalization of the Yaoundé Code of Conduct with our national legislation provides a legally binding agreement for our waterways and seas,” Tuggar noted.
He also stressed the need for the timely exploration of the region’s rich natural resources and called for a more constructive approach to building relationships with international, regional, and sub-regional partners.
“The Commission should safeguard the environment, protect the region from environmental degradation, and guard against the dumping of radioactive material and nuclear waste. Guarding against pollution by ships is another priority,” he added.
Tuggar called for the endorsement of the initiative by the Chiefs of the Navies and Coast Guards in establishing a Combined Maritime Task Force to promote synergy in the region.
He explained that the implementation of the suppression of piracy law resulted in convictions and demonstrated its effectiveness in combating piracy and other maritime crimes, improving Nigeria’s international image and highlighting the country’s determination to fight crime in its territorial waters and the Gulf of Guinea.
