Nigeria Moves To Set Up Court Dedicated To Gulf Of Guinea Piracy

Nigeria Moves To Set Up Court Dedicated To Gulf Of Guinea Piracy....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Nigeria has called for the establishment of a specialized court to address piracy cases in the Gulf of Guinea. The appeal was made by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, during the 6th ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Gulf of Guinea Commission held in Accra, Ghana, on Tuesday……… CONTINUE READING

Tuggar emphasized the need for a dedicated court to effectively prosecute maritime criminals, noting that piracy is an international criminal offense. He highlighted Nigeria’s commitment to combating piracy, citing the 2019 passage of the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act, which aims to address maritime crimes in the Gulf Region.

“Since 2022, Nigeria has not recorded any incidents of piracy in its territorial waters,” Tuggar stated, attributing this success to the significant resources invested in piracy prevention.

He proposed forming agreements with regional states to enable the trial of offenders within the Gulf of Guinea, stressing the importance of a competent jurisdiction to handle maritime crime cases. Tuggar argued that setting up a specialized court would align with international practices for prosecuting such offenses.

In addition, Tuggar urged the commission to enhance environmental protection efforts, prevent the dumping of hazardous materials, and safeguard against maritime pollution. He also recommended the formation of a Combined Maritime Task Force to improve regional cooperation in protecting the Gulf’s waters.

The Gulf of Guinea, vital for global oil transport and containing 10% of the world’s oil reserves, remains a piracy hotspot. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea defines piracy as illegal acts of violence or robbery on the high seas for private gain. In 2020 alone, the region experienced 78 piracy and armed robbery incidents at sea, with 130 seafarers kidnapped, underscoring ongoing security challenges.

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