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FG to partner Gulf of Guinea Commission in tackling maritime crimes
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to working closely with the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC) in tackling piracy and unlawful maritime crimes.
Tuggar disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday by Alkasim Abdulkadir, Special Assistant to the minister at the 6th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of State and Government of GGC held in Accra, Ghana.
According to him, the importance and significance of Gulf of Guinea to Africa cannot be over emphasised in respect to the promotion of a safe and secure region.
Tuggar said, “To this end, Nigeria takes this opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to the work and mandate of the GGC.
“As a demonstration to our commitment to the GGC, Nigeria’s National Assembly passed the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act in 2019.
“To prevent and suppress Piracy, Armed Robbery and any other unlawful acts against any vessels unlawfully operating in the Gulf Region.
“Nigeria continues to deploy significant resources towards tackling piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. This has resulted in a significant containment of threats.
“We are proud to state that since 2022 till date, there has been no incident of piracy recorded in Nigeria’s territorial waters.”
He said that Nigeria is aligned with the theme of this year’s Summit titled: “Building a Secure and Prosperous Gulf of Guinea Region for Sustainable Development”.
He restated that Nigeria will remain committed to the goals, objectives and vision for the establishment of the Commission, and support for the work of the Secretariat.
He decried pursuit of many mechanisms with little resources to be distraction from the goals and objectives of the Commission, while urging the Assembly to approve strategies for accomplishing the goals.
He identified such goals to include safety and security, sustainable development, and protection of the environment.
He said, “Regarding safety and security, it is important to harmonise an effective mechanism backed by legally binding agreements, to roll back criminality, bunkering, illegal trade migration and unreported fishing.
“The internalisation of the Yaoundé code of conduct with our national legislation presents the region legally binding agreement for our water ways and seas.
“There is the need for timely exploration of the rich natural resources of our deep waters; the Commission requires more constructive approach to building relationships with international, regional and sub-regional partners.
“This is towards enhancing capabilities to adopt technologies and know-how for the exploration, and subsequent exploitation of the natural resources in the blue economy of the Gulf of Guinea.
“The Commission should safeguard the environment and protect the region from environmental degradation, guard against dumping of radioactive material and nuclear waste. Guarding against pollution by ships is another priority.”
He called for endorsement of the initiative of the Chiefs of the Navies and the Coast Guards in the establishment of the Combined Maritime task Force to promote synergy in the region.
He explained the implementation of suppression of piracy law resulted in the convictions and clear demonstration of its effectiveness in combating piracy and other maritime crimes.
The success, according to him, improved Nigeria’s international image and highlighted her determination to fight crime in her territorial waters and Gulf of Guinea. (NAN)
The Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Muhammad Matawalle, and Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, arrived in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Friday for a high-level operational visit to Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), the military’s counter-insurgency campaign in the North East.
The visit, according to a statement by Ahmad Dan Wudil, the minister’s media aide, aims to evaluate the troops’ operational readiness, boost morale among frontline personnel, and review strategies to restore lasting peace and stability in the region.
The statement underscored the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s commitment to safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The trip comes amid growing concerns over resurgent attacks by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Borno State.
Earlier this month, Governor Babagana Zulum warned that the security situation was deteriorating, with insurgents dislodging military formations in areas such as Wulgo, Wajiroko, and Sabon Gari.
Zulum urged the federal government and security agencies to act decisively to prevent a reversal of the gains made in the fight against insurgency.
“While we appreciate the tremendous support from the federal government and the military, the current shift in focus away from the North East risks undermining our progress,” Zulum said, highlighting the need for renewed efforts to curb the escalating violence.
The minister’s visit signals a renewed commitment to addressing the security challenges in Borno, where sporadic attacks have raised fears among residents and displaced communities.
Operation HADIN KAI remains a cornerstone of Nigeria’s efforts to combat insurgency and restore stability to the troubled region.
By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
As Nigeria joins the global community to mark World Malaria Day 2025, the Caleb Danladi Foundation has stepped up its efforts to combat the disease, with a special focus on protecting vulnerable populations.
Aligning with this year’s theme, “Malaria Ends With Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite,” the Foundation facilitated the re-enrollment of hundreds of women, children, and other at-risk groups into the Kaduna State Health Insurance Scheme.
Founder of the Foundation, Captain Caleb Danladi, disclosed that the organisation fully funded the beneficiaries’ insurance premiums to enhance their access to malaria prevention and treatment services.
Speaking during Friday’s commemoration, Danladi lamented that malaria continues to claim countless lives, particularly in underserved communities.
“Healthcare is a right, not a privilege,” he said. “On this World Malaria Day, we reaffirm our commitment to saving lives through direct support, strong advocacy, and strategic investments in community health solutions.”
He emphasised the need for sustained investments in healthcare and a reimagined approach to delivering equitable services across communities.
Danladi also urged government agencies, healthcare workers, and development partners to strengthen collaboration efforts aimed at eradicating malaria, noting that safeguarding the health and dignity of Nigerians especially women and children is a shared responsibility.
The Director-General (D-G) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, stated that Africa would be minimally impacted by the tariffs imposed by the President of the United States of America (USA), Donald Trump.
Okonjo-Iweala made the remark during an interview with Nigerian journalists at the Spring Meetings of the World Bank in Washington D.C. on Friday.
She explained that only 6.5 per cent of Africa’s exports go to the USA, while 4.4 per cent of its imports come from the U.S., meaning that the impact on the continent would be minimal.
“The trade of the continent is very limited with the USA. We have done the analysis, and the impact on the continent as a whole is not significant,” she said.
However, she noted that Africa’s limited trade with the USA was also not ideal, as it hindered economic growth.
The D-G emphasised that Africa needed to focus on utilising its own resources to reach its full potential, as aid was declining, and the continent required more investment.
She pointed out that Africa must strengthen internal trade, citing Lesotho as an example.
In spite of Lesotho exporting 200 million dollars’ worth of textiles to the USA, the country faced challenges due to the shrinking U.S. market.
Okonjo-Iweala noted that Africa spent 7 billion dollars annually on importing textiles, suggesting that Lesotho should instead focus on selling textiles within African markets.
She also urged the USA to consider the effects of tariffs on least-developed countries, calling for a reassessment of the reciprocal tariffs in poorer nations.
Okonjo-Iweala concluded that Africa needed more investments and should work towards boosting intra-Africa trade, which remained underdeveloped.
“We cannot trade more externally, where our trade is only 3 per cent of world trade, or internally, where intra-Africa trade is 16 to 20 per cent at most,” she said.(NAN)