How NIMASA’ll collaborate with Chatham House to engage UN on Gulf of Guinea security
Maureen Aguta
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has disclosed that it has agreed with Chatham House London on how to raise the issue of maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) this month; emphasizing the progress made by the Nigeria’s maritime administration in combating piracy and sea robbery in the Gulf of Guinea region.
This decision according a statement by the agency at the weekend was reached during a session between the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola and the Director of Africa Programme at Chatham House, Dr. Alex Vines, during a visit by NIMASA DG/CEO at the Chatham House.
The statement noted that Nigeria’s Alternate Permanent Representative at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Bwala William was in attendance.
This is as it has been disclosed that NIMASA 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.
His words: “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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