Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city has been full of activities since yesterday following the arrival of most of the delegates for the 2019 edition of the Global Maritime Security Conference GMSC billed to commence this morning.

The GMSC 2019 is a high-level conference, aimed at facilitating a clearer understanding of the challenges of maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea region. The conference will also help develop tailored solutions as well as coordinate efforts at strengthening regional and international collaborations to eliminate maritime threats in the Gulf of Guinea region. It is expected to commence today, Monday, October 7, and end Wednesday 9, 2019.

Already, security has been beefed up around the International Conference Centre, the venue of the event, as many participants were also seen yesterday at the venue doing pre-conference registration and accreditation.

It was gathered that participants from over 80 countries of the world would be in attendance at the conference, which is expected to define the precise nature and scope of coordinated regional responses to maritime insecurity vis-à-vis intervention supports from external actors and partners.

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside while speaking earlier on the event, welcomes participants to this great and strategic event.

The DG said: On behalf of the Gulf of Guinea states and the international shipping community, Nigeria welcomes you to the Global Maritime Security Conference. The conference offers us an opportunity to brainstorm and collectively find solution to sets of maritime insecurity in the region, you are welcome to Abuja”

Maritime and security experts who commented on the conference believe that the Gulf of Guinea was strategic to the stability of oil production globally, adding that the area was a major shipping route and as such any infraction there would be felt beyond the region.

“The strategic importance of the Gulf of Guinea is undisputed and any disruption in the area has a direct negative impact on the oil and gas industry and indeed, of global concern. This conference is timely in bringing together the relevant and critical stakeholders to allow them to discuss in a constructive manner what concerted action could be undertaken to ensure the sustainable use and long term security of this important and strategic body of oceans”, an expert, who pleaded anonymity had said.