Harboursandport.com: Lagos - The United Nations (UN) has commended Nigeria for playing a leading role in efforts to secure the Gulf of Guinea, saying it will continue to support the country and the region. Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Kitack Lim said the country had made important contributions to the fight against piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea maritime domain, foremost among them the recent launch of the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure also called the Deep Blue Project.
IMO is the specialised agency
of the UN responsible for regulating shipping.
“I would like to extend my
deepest appreciation to the Nigerian government for its continued contribution
towards the endeavours to ensure safe and secure maritime operation in the Gulf
of Guinea,” Lim said in his message to Nigeria.
A statement by Head, Corporate Communications, NIMASA, Philip Kyanet noted that Lim said such actions had
helped the work of seafarers and improved shipping in the region, while keeping
at bay illicit maritime activities.
The IMO Secretary-General
praised Nigeria’s determination to galvanise regional and international
energies to rid the country’s waters and the Gulf of Guinea of threats to
shipping.
“I'm encouraged to envisage
the promise of inter-regional cooperation on so many levels. I would like to
express my deepest appreciation for Nigeria's active engagement in all these
global and regional initiatives,” Lim stated in his message to the launch of
the Deep Blue Protect, a scheme initiated to provide security for the Nigerian
maritime domain and the Gulf of Guinea from land, air, and sea.
The project is domiciled with
the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), while the
Maritime Security Unit (MSU) with personnel drawn from the Nigerian Armed
forces, the police, the Department of State Services and NIMASA are
responsible for its operational deployment.
Lim said the launch of the
Deep Blue Project marked “a major development in the world to avert piracy in
the Gulf of Guinea. I wholeheartedly welcome you all today to launch Nigeria's
Deep Blue Project, reflecting Nigeria's commitment to lead the fight against
piracy, not in your national waters, but in the Gulf of Guinea.”
Lim acknowledged the need for
more collaboration and contribution to the antipiracy war, saying, “There is
still more work ahead for all of us. The world is watching and we must ensure
we succeed in our objective to enhance security in the Gulf of Guinea region.”
He said IMO remained
committed to supporting the region in its efforts to ensure maritime
security.
Nigeria and the Inter
Regional Coordination Centre (ICC) Yaoundé recently floated the Gulf of Guinea
Maritime Collaboration Forum (GOG-MCF/SHADE) after meetings between Director
General of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh, representing Nigeria, and Executive
Director of ICC Yaoundé, Admiral Narciso Fastudo Jr.
GOG-MCF/SHADE is
a forum to galvanise regional and international efforts to ensure security in
the Gulf of Guinea. It is one among other similar endeavours spearheaded by
Nigeria with the objective of securing its maritime environment.
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