The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency and Chatham House, London, have reached an agreement to address maritime security challenges in the Gulf of Guinea.
It therefore said it was set to raise the matter at the United Nations Security Council, according to Arise News.
This was disclosed in a statement by NIMASA during a session between the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, and the Director of the Africa Programme at Chatham House, Dr. Alex Vines.
Mobereola in a statement by Head of Public Relations, NIMASA, Osagie Edward, on Sunday in Abuja, noted that the agency and Chatham House had also commenced collaboration to convene a meeting of international stakeholders from both the public and private sector in Nigeria.
Mobereola led his team including Nigeria’s Alternate Permanent Representative at the International Maritime Organisation, Bwala William, and highlighted that the goal was to prepare a position paper on marine security in the Gulf of Guinea.
The NIMASA DG underlined the necessity of effective international cooperation in ensuring the Gulf of Guinea’s security.
He said “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.”
Chatham House has helped people, societies, and governments understand and adapt to change by providing impartial analysis and trusted discourse for a century.
