The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, has called for regional and continental cooperation to tackle maritime threats. He made the call at the just concluded 2024 International Maritime Conference as well as the Y2024 Nigerian Navy Week and 68th Anniversary celebration in Lagos.
Ogalla said the call became necessary because of the transnational nature of maritime threats and its propensity to hamper potentials of nations’ blue economy.
According to him, ameliorating these threats go beyond the scope and capability of any individual nation.
“Undoubtedly, it requires international collaborative efforts, which this conference represents. It is against this backdrop that the theme for the conference, ‘Promoting the Blue Economy in Africa through International Cooperation on Maritime Security’, was conceptualised.
“It is believed that this conference will provide a viable platform to collectively develop strategies in addressing Africa’s inherent security challenges arising from development of the Blue Economy,” he said.
The CNS acknowledged past efforts aimed at achieving sustainable maritime security architecture in Africa, such as the Africa Integrated Maritime Strategy 2050 and the 2013. These initiatives, he said, testify of the level of commitment to security and developmental imperatives in the continent’s maritime domain.
“I also acknowledge contributions of the international community, friendly navies, and strategic partners in the Gulf of Guinea region. Your support contributed to propelling the efforts of the Nigerian Navy and other navies in the Gulf of Guinea towards checking transnational crimes in the region,” he said
Vice Admiral Ogalla recalled that as part of regional initiatives to promote maritime security, the African Union, through its Communiqué 1012 of 2021, established the Combined Maritime Task Force for the region.
He added: “I am happy to state that the Combined Maritime Task Force was operationalised in 2023 with headquarters in Lagos. A Nigerian Navy officer has been designated as Commander of the Task Force while the three Task Groups of the Task Force, which cover the Northern, Central and Southern sectors of the Gulf of Guinea are hosted by Senegal, Nigeria and Republic of Congo, respectively.
“Though the Task Force is evolving, this conference will facilitate discourse on concepts and collaborative plans in actualising aspirations of the Combined Maritime Task Force to support the region’s blue economy.
“On its part, the Nigerian Navy has rejigged its maritime security operations to ensure protection of Nigeria’s Blue Economy in accordance with her statutory mandate.”
