The Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC) has expressed its commitment to resolving maritime security challenges within the region.
The Executive Director of the Commission, Mrs Florentina Ukonga made this known at the ongoing Global Maritime Security Conference in Abuja on Monday.
Ukonga, while reiterating the mandate of the commission, said it was in line with the theme of the conference which is “Managing and Securing the Waterways’’.
She expressed optimism that the conference would serve as a cornerstone in the construction of global solutions to the recurring problems of maritime in the region.
“This conference is of special interest to us as the theme and sub themes deal directly with all aspects of our mandate.
“The threats and consequences of maritime insecurity for the region require us to research innovative, achievable and sustainable solutions.
“These solutions can only be found in framework of permanent consultation and coordination of the activities of stakeholders in the region.
“We are conscious of the fact that the path will be long and bumpy, but we are determined to put an end to all these threats no matter how long it takes,’’ Ukonga said.
The Chairperson of African Union Commission, Moussa Mahamat in his remarks, reiterated the importance of collaboration among key stakeholders on the continent.
Mahamat expressed the commission’s commitment to support and work with all regional economic communities in order for the maritime sector to thrive.
“Nowhere is a balance required between ownership and partnership than in the maritime domain.
“This is where international laws and multilateral institutions can help.
“The continent must speak with one voice in the international arena, demand for fair laws and regulations as well as partnerships that are equitable, smart and regulated in the mutual interest of all concerned.
“I have no doubt that this conference will galvanise the necessary political buy-in of all member states and deepen collaboration among governments and stakeholders in the Gulf of Guinea region and beyond.
“So that together, we can unlock the potential of the Blue Economy.’’
Also speaking, Mr Kitack Lim, the Secretary-General, International Maritime Organisation (IMO) said the organisation was also committed to the eradication of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.
Lim, represented by his assistant, Mr Lawrence Barchu, said addressing maritime insecurity required collaborative effort of all relevant stakeholders in the region.
While reiterating the importance of Nigeria to the region, Lim, however, said incidents of piracy and armed robbery in the waterways of Nigeria and West Africa was on the increase.
This, he said had been of serious concern to the IMO with respect to the safety and security of seafarers.
According to Lim, one significant development to address maritime security in the region is the ”Yaounde Declaration’’.
He said IMO had continued to support efforts of the Economic Community of Central African States, (ECCAS), ECOWAS and the GGC to develop and adopt a comprehensive Joint Regional Maritime Strategy.
Lim said the strategy was aimed at effectively fighting piracy and related transnational criminal activities in the Gulf of Guinea, within the framework of the Yaounde Code.
“Working together is something that IMO is fully on board with and together we can team up to deploy resources from all stakeholders to comprehensively address maritime insecurity within the region.’’
The conference is being attended by delegates from more than 80 countries.
Over 40 global maritime experts would be making presentations in the course of the three-day which have 11 thematic sessions.
