From left: DG NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola and the Director of the Africa Programme at Chatham House, Dr. Alex Vines.

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, and Chatham House London have agreed that the issue of Maritime Security in the Gulf of Guinea should be raised at the United Nations Security Council UNSC this month, emphasising the progress made by NIMASA in combating piracy and sea robbery in the region.

This decision was reached during a session between Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, and Director of the Africa Programme at Chatham House, Dr. Alex Vines, accompanied by his team. The meeting was also attended by Nigeria’s Alternate Permanent Representative at the International Maritime Organisation IMO, Bwala William. 

The Agency and Chatham House have also commenced collaboration to convene a meeting of international stakeholders from both the public and private sector in Nigeria, with the aim of developing a position paper on maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.

Speaking shortly after the meeting, the NIMASA DG emphasised the importance of effective international partnership to sustain security in the Gulf of Guinea. 

“We had a very fruitful discussion with the team at Chatham House. The decision to engage the UN Security Council is to ensure they are well informed about the progress made so far in terms of security in the Gulf of Guinea. We also need an independent analysis of the security situation in the Gulf of Guinea and how best to transform the gains in terms of enhanced security, into tangible economic benefits such as reduction in the cost of all Nigerian Bound freight and issues bothering on payment of war risk insurance premium for Nigerian bound vessels. The coming on board of Chatham House will serve as a catalyst in developing our Blue Economy.” Mobereola stated via his official X handle @MobereolaD.

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