Nigeria has known as for the creation of a specialised court docket to deal with piracy circumstances within the Gulf of Guinea.
The Minister of International Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, made the enchantment in the course of the sixth extraordinary session of the Meeting of Heads of State and Authorities of the Gulf of Guinea Fee in Accra, Ghana, on Tuesday.
Addressing the meeting, Tuggar careworn the significance of building a court docket to convey maritime criminals to justice, emphasising piracy as a world felony offence.
“The significance and significance of the Gulf of Guinea to Africa can’t be overemphasised. To this finish, Nigeria takes this chance to reaffirm its dedication to the work and mandate of the Gulf of Guinea Fee.
“As an indication of our dedication to the Gulf of Guinea Fee, Nigeria’s Nationwide Meeting handed the Suppression of Piracy Different Maritime Offences Act in 2019 to forestall and suppress Piracy, Armed Theft and some other illegal acts in opposition to any vessels unlawfully working within the Gulf Area.
“Nigeria continues to deploy important sources in direction of tackling piracy within the Gulf of Guinea. This has resulted in a major containment of threats. We’re proud to state that since 2022 until date, there have been no incidents of piracy recorded in Nigeria’s territorial waters”, the minister famous.
He proposed agreements with regional states to facilitate the trial of offenders, highlighting the necessity for a reliable jurisdiction inside the Gulf of Guinea.
Tuggar added, “Your Excellencies, to counter the gentle bigotry of low expectations, we should take into account establishing a specialised court docket in our area to attempt maritime piracy circumstances. Piracy is thought to be a world felony offence; worldwide jurisdictions are replete with examples of bringing offenders to e book.
“The time is apt for the GGC to step ahead and cleared the path in establishing a specialised court docket to deal with the trials of maritime crimes. This requires agreements with regional states and establishing processes to facilitate the trial of offenders within the court docket of competent jurisdiction that we’d set up.”
Tuggar additionally urged the fee to reinforce efforts to guard the atmosphere from degradation, forestall the dumping of radioactive materials and nuclear waste, and guard in opposition to air pollution by ships.
He known as for the endorsement of a Mixed Maritime Job Drive to advertise regional synergy in safeguarding the Gulf’s waters.
In keeping with the European Union, the Gulf of Guinea is essential for international oil transport, containing 10 per cent of the world’s oil reserves and serving as a serious route for ships carrying oil and different items. Nonetheless, piracy stays a major menace within the area.
The United Nations Conference on the Legislation of the Sea famous that piracy entails unlawful acts equivalent to violence, detention, or theft on the excessive seas for personal ends. In 2020, the Gulf of Guinea skilled 78 piracy and armed theft incidents at sea, with 130 seafarers kidnapped for ransom, highlighting the area’s ongoing safety challenges.