Maritime security: Piracy decreases by 77%, says NIMASA Boss
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) on Wednesday declared that piracy had decreased by 77% on Nigerian waters in the first nine months of 2021.
A statement issued by Mr Edward Osagie, Assistant Director, Public Relations, NIMASA quoted The Director General of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh as saying that the reduction was reflected in the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) third-quarter 2021 report.
Jimoh noted that the reduction was reflected in the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) third-quarter 2021 report.
“Nigeria reported four incidents in the first nine months of 2021, in comparison to 17 in 2020 and 41 in 2018.
“This represents 77 per cent decrease in incidents between 2021 and 2020, and 95 per cent reduction from 2018.
“The IMB also reported 39 per cent reduction in piracy and armed robbery incidents in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG),”DG NIMASA said.
He explained that the latest figures came following the launch of the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, also known as the Deep Blue Project, on June 10 by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Jamoh further said that the Agency had put in place measures to sustain the current momentum of security in the country’s waters.
In his words: “We are delighted by this latest news from the IMB and the trend of progressive reduction in piracy and related incidents on our waters.
“But we cannot afford to be complacent about our commitment to the security of our maritime domain.
“We will continue to strive for more effective measures to keep Nigerian waters safe and sec in the first nine months of 2021, in comparison to 46 for the same period in 2020.
“The piracy reporting agency explained that crew kidnappings in the region had dropped with only one crew member kidnapped in Q3, compared to 31 crew members taken in five separate incidents during Q3 2020.
“All Q3 incidents were also against vessels at port anchorages, whilst the average successful kidnapping location in Q3 2020 was approximately 100NM from land.”
He maintained that the overall reduction of piracy and armed robbery incidents in the region was testament to enhanced maritime security and response coordination measures adopted by regional and national authorities.
“It called for the sustenance of the current momentum, as they welcome the decrease of piracy and armed robbery attacks in the Gulf of Guinea and the efforts taken by maritime authorities in the region,” said IMB Director, Michael Howlett.
(NAN)
