Global Maritime Security conference vows to criminalise proceeds of illegal activities in Gulf of Guinea
Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) – A two-day Global Maritime Security Conference (GMSC) has ended in Abuja with declaration that it will globally criminalise acts of insecurity and proceeds from illegal maritime activities from Gulf of Guinea (GoG) as was with the case of the “Blood Diamonds”, which are mines from conflict zones.
In a communiqué released on Wednesday in Abuja dubbed "Abuja Declaration on the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) crisis", the conference resolved that Gulf of Guinea States and the international community should put mechanisms in place to ensure that resources that are illegally harvested/explored in the GoG, including stolen oil and Illegal Unreported and Unregulated Fishery, are intentionally banned as was the case with the ‘blood diamonds.’”
The communique said it will constitute a “GMSC expert working group” to drive the implementation of the decisions arising from the gathering in liaison with Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), International Criminal Court (ICC), and other international partners.
The conference called for collaboration among the navies, coast guards, and maritime authorities of countries in the Gulf of Guinea and other continental and international maritime nations. It said countries in the Gulf of Guinea should intensify maritime capacity and infrastructure building efforts to push the objectives effectively.
According to the communique, GoG States should explore the possibility of designated maritime courts to handle cases of sea robbery, piracy and other maritime offences to ensure quick dispensation of cases in addition to capacity building and sensitisation of judiciary on crucial relevant legislation.
It further urged the GoG states to put more efforts to implement various agreed strategies at the continental, regional and national levels.
It said, GoG States should strengthen national, zonal and regional maritime domain awareness centres to enhance information sharing and coordination.
The GoG States were encouraged to sustain regular meeting of heads of states, heads of navies/coast guards and other maritime enforcement agencies on issues of maritime security for mutual benefit.
In addition, relevant regional maritime agencies, industry experts/representatives were charged to come up with informed policy decisions on maritime security and related issues.
The conference said GoG States should engage in maritime spatial planning of coastal and urban areas to ensure that maritime security vulnerabilities are not created particularly in proximity to critical maritime infrastructure.
“GoG States should explore opportunities for maritime law enforcement through targeted engagement with coastal and fishing communities to support maritime security efforts.”
Speaking at a press conference to close the meeting, the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, emphasised the need for prompt actions to realise the implementation of the recommendations.
Dakuku said the proposed expert working group should be established in the next few months.
The conference with the theme, “Managing and Securing our Waters” was attended by over 2,000 delegates from about 80 countries.
It was aimed at finding solution to the problem of maritime insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea.
-0- PANA MON/MA 10Oct2019
