Joseph Ebi Kanjo, Benin
Dr. Dakuku Peterside, Former Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Tuesday, lamented that the illegal and unreported activities carried out at the Gulf of Guinea has made global bodies marked the Gulf as the most dangerous waterways in the world.
The former NIMASA boss who disclosed this in a paper he titled ‘Security in the Gulf of Guinea’ at an event organised by Health of the Mother Health (HOMEF) for its School of Ecology, with the theme: ‘Politics of the Sea’, said the unique ecosystem in the Gulf of Guinea has attracted global attention and its consequent danger in the waterways.
Peterside, who made his presentation via zoom in the Programme held in Benin, noted that the reasons why the Gulf has become the most dangerous in the world is because of it unique and richness thereby accounting for 60% of Africa crude oil production, 5% of global fossil oil reserve, 2.7% of fossil natural gas reserve globally, etc, hence attracting foreigners
READ ALSO: NIMET Warns Against Impending Flood In 32 States
He said, “Both the United Nations office of drugs and crimes; the International Maritime Bureau, and the International Maritime Organistions classified the Gulf of Guinea as one of the most dangerous maritime areas in the world, at least this was the case at 2018, 2019, 2020.
“For many reasons, the Gulf of Guinea is a place of interest Internationally; the Gulf of Guinea is a place of interest continentally. It is a place of interest to those who are into shipping. It is a place of interest, for those who are into fishing. So, for diverse reasons, the ecosystem of the Gulf of Guinea is unique. It is the second or third largest in the world.
“It is one of the richest fishing ground globally. This is because some of the fish spices found in the Gulf of Guinea may not be found anywhere in the world. So, it’s a unique ecosystem,” he said.
Giving account of some of the dangerous and deadly activities carried out in the Gulf, Peterside said, “the Gulf of Guinea accounts for 95% global kidnappings at sea. As at 2019, we had 111 cases of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. piracy is significant in the Gulf of Guinea.”
“120,000 barrel of crude oil stolen daily in the Gulf of Guinea as at 2020.”
Earlier, in his welcome address, Nnimmo Bassey, Director, HOMEF said the numerous mineral resources and aquatic diversity in Africa waterways have attracted entities with interest in both legal and illegal activities.
While emphasising that the Sea means a lot to Nigerians and Africans at large, and cannot be traded in any means, the HOMEF Director called for the protection of fishers and coastal communities and an end to sea piracy.
“We call for the protection of fishers and coastal communities. We call for an end to sea piracy and human rights abuses from security agencies. We call for the use of maritime resources for the good of citizens and in sustain-able ways. We call for an end to seeing and treating our oceans, rivers, and creeks as waste dumps. We especially call for halt to investment in searching for fossil fuels in our water bodies.
READ ALSO: Olu of Warri: Five Things To Know About Ogiame Atuwatse III
“The sea means a lot to Africa and her littoral states. The mineral resources and aquatic diversity have attracted entities with interest in legal activities and others with illegal intentions. With the world literally scrapping the bottom of the natural resource pot, there is a scramble for the sea and one way to sell the idea of limitless resources and opportunities has been to dream up the Blue Economy concept,” he said.
The School of Ecology programme attracted participants across the Niger Delta states.
News5 days ago
