By Steve Agbota
The Comptroller General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap has revealed that maritime insecurity from illegal oil bunkering, fishing, piracy, armed robbery, and oil-related crimes threaten vessel and crew safety.
She argued that Marítime threats undermine regional stability, hinder economic growth and integration.
Speaking yesterday at the Regional workshop on Maritime Border Security titled: “Regional Maritime Border Security in the Context of Counter Terrorism in the Gulf of Guinea,” held in Lagos.
However, she said that immigration plays a pivotal role in maritime border security by ensuring that foreign terrorist fighters and other criminal elements do not exploit the nation’s territorial integrity.
“This Workshop further emphasises our collective resolve to tackle piracy, terrorism, illicit flow of arms, migrant smuggling, human trafficking and stowaways, among other transnational organised crimes. We aim to achieve this through sound policies, capacity building, community engagement, collaboration, and regional partnerships.
“Along West Africa’s Atlantic coast, the Gulf of Guinea is known for piracy, especially near Nigeria. It spans several countries, including Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, São Tomé and Príncipe, Ivory Coast, Togo, Benin, and Ghana. Due to its offshore oil and gas reserves, the region plays a crucial role in the global energy sector.
“Beyond oil and gas, harnessing the economic potential of the GoG resonates with Agenda 2063: the Africa We Want, and the 2050 African Integrated Marine Strategy, Policy Framework, and Reform strategy for fisheries and aquaculture in Africa,” she explained.
Also speaking at the event, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, identified critical areas that must be addressed to secure the maritime domain.
He aligned with CGI Nandap’s call for inter-agency cooperation and stressed the need for maintaining a credible terrorist database and strengthening community engagement around maritime zones.
“What I would like to add is born out of similar experiences that we’ve had in the global customs community under the auspices of the World Customs Organisation (WCO),” Adeniyi said.
He pointed out the pivotal role of the WCO’s West and Central African unit in addressing maritime security threats in the region. He praised the presence of Vincent Jendi of the Cameroon Customs Administration.
Adeniyi emphasised the importance of tackling terrorism financing and drug trafficking as two major enablers of terrorism. “Terrorists around this place leverage the gaps in our financial systems. Some get involved in illegal mining, kidnapping, and human trafficking to fund their operations. We must understand how they use financial systems and integrate that into our counterterrorism strategies,” he stated.
He also commended the Minister of Interior for leading reforms in border management and security within Nigeria, stating that the quiet revolution at home can be replicated across the Gulf of Guinea region.
The three-day workshop, which continues until May 22, 2025, brings together key stakeholders from Gulf of Guinea states, international organisations, and security agencies to formulate actionable strategies for maritime security in the region.