Sea Piracy activities at Nigeria’s Gulf of Guinea waters has fallen by as much as 80% this year according to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)
This was disclosed in a statement by the DG of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh on Thursday after a meeting with the executive members of the NUJ, led by its Chairman, Mr Adeleye Ajayi at the NIMASA headquarters in Lagos, according to NAN.
The NIMASA boss also added that as much as $783 million has been lost to piracy in the region.
What the NIMASA boss said
He said, “We have recorded a drastic reduction in piracy and this is enough for us to beat our chest that we are ready to return to the category ‘C’ of membership of International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
“However, the year 2021 has witnessed a significant turnaround under my leadership as insecurity on Nigerian waters has reduced by 80%.
NIMASA revealed that the last time experienced a significant drop in piracy in the region was in 1994, citing that the achievement so far this year was enough reason to sensitise and inform the international community that the Nigerian waterways was now safer than ever before.
“We want the cost of Insurance Premium paid by Nigerians as a result of insecurity to be reconsidered as insecurity in the country’s waterways has drastically reduced.
“We have eight coastal states in the country and we want these states to develop their potentials in order to contribute to the country’s revenue.”
He added that Nigeria’s priority as a nation should be striving to project positive reports that will project Nigeria in better light to the international community as done in advanced countries, citing that the FG cannot achieve much without the media, especially in the area of educating people.
“Another election in the Global Maritime Industry (IMO) will hold in November and I urge the media to showcase achievements of Nigeria to the world to put Nigeria at the forefront globally,” he urged
What you should know
Recall Nairametrics reported in July that piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, which has become the global epicentre for sea piracy fell to the lowest since Q2 2019, in the last quarter, published by the International Maritime Bureau.
The report disclosed that globally there were 68 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships – the lowest total since 1994 – down from 98 incidents during the same period last year.