Nigeria wants to adopt Kenya’s strategy in bolstering maritime security

The Gulf of Guinea is a hub of illegal activities resulting in tremendous threats to global trade and security. It is the most dangerous stretch of sea for pirate attacks over the planet. To overcome the challenge, a two-day International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference took place in Ghana’s capital, Accra. It attracted experts from various countries who discussed the issues of armed robbery and piracy and the solutions. The conference focused on dealing with multiple security-related issues like piracy, illegal fishing, abducting for ransom, illegal oil bunkering and drug trafficking in the Gulf of Guinea.

To continue reading, please click here.

Source: devdiscourse.com

Coastal communities in Akwa Ibom protest over attacks by sea pirates

By Lovina Anthony

Residents of fishing communities in Oron Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, on Tuesday protested over incessant attacks and killings of fishermen and boat owners on waterways by suspected sea pirates.

It was gathered that security agents drafted to protect the waterways were incapacitated to salvage the situation as pirates seemed to have overpowered them.

To continue reading, please click here.

Source: dailypost.ng

Navy seeks inter-agency cooperation against piracy

The Nigerian Navy has called for inter-agency cooperation to curb cases of piracy in the maritime sector which affects oil activities, fishing and cargo shipping.
The Commandant of Naval War College Nigeria, Rear Adm. Adeseye Ayobanjo, made the call on Monday in Calabar during the presentation of the report of Naval Warfare Course 3 International Study Tour to the Republic of Kenya.

Ayobanjo explained that participants of the NWC Course 3 embarked on the study tour between June 29 and July 6 with a view for better understanding of Kenya’s operating environment.

To continue reading, please click here.

Source: theeagleonline.com.ng

What’s the cost of piracy in West African waters?

The Gulf of Guinea has turned into one of the world’s most notorious piracy hotspots. Plus, why’s the gold price rising?

A decade ago, no ship was safe off the coast of Somalia; men armed with machine guns in small boats would target vessels, including aid ships from the World Food Programme.

The menace of piracy continues to plague the region, impeding its security and economic development. It is also increasing in the Gulf of Guinea, an area that covers 11,000 kilometres of coastline from Angola to Senegal.

Fishing boats are sometimes targeted but most attacks are carried out on oil and gas tankers.

To continue reading, please click here.

Source: aljazeera.com

EFCC laments incessant oil theft, pipeline vandalism

By Davies Iheamanchor

PORT HARCOURT: The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has lamented the continuous activities of pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta region.

The commission also disclosed that the commission has secured 14 convictions in its fight against corruption within few months, adding that the breakthrough was based on the level of investigation and professionalism been put at work by officials of the commission.

To continue reading, please click here.

Source: vanguardngr.com

Growing maritime insecurity raises question on NIMASA’s $195m maritime security contract to Israeli firm

By Samson Echenim

Despite a running $195 million maritime security contract awarded to Israeli firm, Messrs HLSI Security Systems and Technologies by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Nigeria is seeing growing incidences of piracy attacks and vessel hijacking.

The situation has led to shipping companies now spending millions of dollars in providing security onboard the vessels while in Nigerian waters.

To continue reading, please click here.

Source: businessamlive.com

Ghana, Cote D’Ivoire and other ECOWAS members sign MOU for maritime operations

The Chiefs of Navies of Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone and Guinea, the Chief of Coast Guard of Liberia and the high Commander of the National Gendarmerie of Burkina Faso have signed a Memorandum of understanding (MoU) for joint Maritime operations in ECOWAS maritime zone F.

Collaboration, Coordination and the pooling of resources for collective security and safety of Zone F Maritime Domain were the core engagements that was agreed in the MoU signed in Accra. With this MoU, ECOWAS intends to provide an important response to any sort of threat to maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea and specifically in zone F.

To continue reading, please click here.

Source: ghanaweb.com

Pirates Kill Two Army Officers In Bayelsa

Suspected sea pirates have attacked and killed two soldiers at an oil flow station located at Azagbene community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

According to reports, the suspected sea pirates struck on Monday night, leaving two soldiers dead, one other missing. They carted away their riffles.

To continue reading, please click here.

Source: shipsandports.com.ng

Contact made with pirates holding 10 Turkish sailors off Nigeria

After a week of efforts and nervous waiting, contact was reportedly established with the pirates who kidnapped 10 Turkish sailors off Nigeria, as four others remain in the hands of ransom-seeking criminals in the country.

On July 16, 10 Turkish sailors were abducted in the Gulf of Guinea when pirates attacked Turkish-flagged ship Paksoy-1 bound to Abidjan in Ivory Coast from Douala in Cameroon. Out of the ship’s 18 crew members, eight were left on the ship, which was docked in the port of Tema in Ghana.

To continue reading, please click here.

Source: dailysabah.com

Ghana: Navy chases pirates

The Ghana Navy is in hot pursuit of pirates who hijacked a vessel from the Tema anchorage and proceeded towards Togolese waters but abandoned the operation midway.

The Officer Commanding the Eastern Naval Command Commodore, James Kontoh, said this shortly after a Ghana Navy operation rescued five persons, one of them a Ghanaian, from the abandoned vessel. The daredevil hijack mission started with a fishing vessel going missing from the Tema anchorage, having been taken away by the suspected Nigerian pirates who abandoned it later on the Keta high seas.The Officer Commanding the Eastern Naval Command Commodore, James Kontoh, said this shortly after a Ghana Navy operation rescued five persons, one of them a Ghanaian, from the abandoned vessel.

To continue reading, please click here.

Source: ghanaweb.com