Nigeria has called for effective measures to harmonise mechanisms backed by legally binding agreements to address the challenges faced by the Gulf of Guinea region.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, made this call at the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Gulf of Guinea Commission in Accra, Ghana.
Ambassador Tuggar explained that the pursuit of numerous mechanisms with limited resources is hindering the Commission’s goals and objectives. Therefore, he emphasized the need for the Assembly to approve strategies that will help protect and secure the region.
“The internalization of the Yaoundé code of conduct with our national legislations, therefore, presents the region with an enforceable, legally binding agreement, for our waterways and seas. There is also a need for concrete measurable timelines for the exploration of the rich natural resources of our deep waters.
“As such, the Commission requires a more constructive approach to building relationships with international, regional and subregional partners towards enhancing its capabilities to adopt technologies and knowhow for the exploration and subsequent exploitation of the natural resources in the blue economy of the Gulf of Guinea,” Ambassador Tuggar said.
The Foreign Affairs Minister also emphasised the need to establish a specialized court to try maritime piracy cases in the region.
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“It is imperative that we consider setting up a specialized court in our region to try maritime piracy cases. Piracy is regarded as an international criminal offence, international jurisdictions are replete with examples of bringing offenders to book.
“The time is apt for the GGC to step forward and lead the way in establishing a specialized court to handle the trials of maritime crimes. This requires agreements with regional states and setting up processes to facilitate the trial of offenders in the court of competent jurisdiction that we would establish,” he added.
The Ambassador, while charging the Gulf of Guinea Commission to safeguard the environment and protect the region from environmental degradation, guard against the dumping of radioactive material and nuclear waste, reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to the goals, objectives and vision for the establishment of the Commission, and support for the work of the Secretariat.
“The importance and significance of Gulf of Guinea to Africa cannot be over-emphasised. To this end, Nigeria takes this opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to the work and mandate of the Gulf of Guinea Commission.
“As a demonstration to our commitment to the Gulf of Guinea Commission, Nigeria’s National Assembly passed the Suppression of Piracy Other Maritime Offences Act in 2019 to prevent and suppress Piracy, Armed Robbery and any other unlawful acts against any vessels unlawfully operating in the Gulf Region. Nigeria continues to deploy significant resources towards tackling piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. This has resulted in a significant containment of threats,” he stated.
The 6th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Head of States and Government of the Gulf of Guinea is with the theme “Building a Secure and Prosperous Gulf of Guinea Region for Sustainable Development”.
