Gulf of Guinea Focus: Week 39
- Agwe Global
- Sep 25
- 5 min read
The African Group at the United Nations has pledged unwavering support for Nigeria’s candidature for election into Category “C” of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council for the 2026–2027 biennium. The declaration was made during a high-level presentation by Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, at the African Union Mission in New York. The group praised Nigeria’s exemplary leadership in maritime security and its steadfast commitment to promoting Africa’s collective voice in global shipping governance. Amb Mohamed Dabo, Permanent Representative of Equatorial Guinea to the UN and Chair of the African Group for September, commended Nigeria for its “unmatched leadership role in the fight against piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.” He noted that Nigeria’s decisive actions had significantly reduced piracy incidents in the region. Dabo further described Nigeria as a “brotherly nation” whose leadership extended beyond its borders, consistently championing Africa’s agenda at the UN. “Nigeria’s record makes its candidature most deserving of our support,” Dabo said.
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The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has banned all unauthorised boat loading points across the country. The authority also called for the passage of the Coastal Guards Bill to enhance water safety and curb boat mishaps Mr Bola Oyebamiji, the Managing Director of NIWA, made this known in Abuja, at a news conference to address concerns surrounding boat mishaps. Oyebamiji said that no commercial passenger boat shall be allowed to load from any point other than those recognised and registered by NIWA. “It is mandatory for all commercial boat operators to provide and enforce the use of life jackets on the boats always. “Every commercial passenger boat must properly display its Boat Name Letters and Load line, and all unlicensed boats and watercrafts are to be removed from the waterways,” he said. Oyebamiji said that all unlicensed boat drivers and operators were banned from operating any boats or watercraft on waterways. He reiterated NIWA’s commitment to safe waterways, especially through its continuous removal of aquatic waste, logs, wrecks and other impediments from waterways that could hinder safe navigation. He said that NIWA had increased the number of its water marshals from 80 personnel…..
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Despite sweeping gains in maritime security, including Nigeria’s removal from piracy-prone and high-risk zones, shipowners still pay crippling war risk insurance premiums on Nigeria-bound cargoes. Stakeholders say the charges, amounting to over $1.5bn in three years, no longer reflect reality, describing them as unfair economic exploitation, ANOZIE EGOLE reports Nigeria’s maritime sector has witnessed transformative improvements in security over the past few years. The Deep Blue Project, led by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency in partnership with the Nigerian Navy and other agencies, has virtually eliminated piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, earning praise from the International Maritime Organisation and culminating in Nigeria’s delisting from high-risk maritime zones. Despite these strides, Nigeria continues to shoulder a crippling financial burden in the form of war risk insurance surcharges, which some stakeholders say no longer reflect reality. War risk insurance comprises two parts: war risk liability, covering people and cargo, and war risk hull, insuring the vessel itself. When Nigeria was deemed high-risk due to militancy and piracy, international shipping firms began levying hefty WRI premiums on Nigeria-bound vessels
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The Nigerian Navy has reassured residents of Rivers State of their safety, disclosing that its personnel are physically fit, strategically deployed, and fully equipped to tackle criminal activities across the state’s waterways and creeks. Speaking during the Third Quarter Route March in Port Harcourt, Commander of the Nigerian Navy Ship Pathfinder, Commodore Cajethan Aniaku, represented by Executive Officer Navy Captain Abubakar Sani, said the exercise was designed to boost personnel fitness and strengthen collaboration with other security agencies. “The essence of the route march is to ensure that Nigerian Navy personnel are physically fit and healthy to perform their constitutional mandate, which is safeguarding the territorial integrity of Nigeria,” Sani said. He added that the march demonstrates the Navy’s readiness for deployment anywhere in the country, noting, “Our men are physically fit to be deployed anywhere and at any time.” On operations in Rivers State, Sani disclosed that the Navy had intensified patrols in the creeks and waterways, deploying gunboats and working closely with other agencies to maintain security. Related News Police deny bank robbery report in Rivers Rivers market women receive over N12m business grants Rivers: Presidency replies ADC, says Tinubu acted within Nigeria’s constitution “We have our men deployed in all strategic creeks and locations in the state to stamp out criminality.
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General Dagvin Anderson conducted a visit to Benin and Cameroon September 16-20, 2025, his first visit to the region as Commander, U.S. Africa Command. The trip highlighted the strong and enduring security partnerships between the United States and these key West African allies of the United States, said a statement to APA. Anderson’s meeting with the Beninese President Patrice Talon focused on strengthening collaboration in addressing shared security challenges, particularly the migrating terrorism threats that have made Africa the new global epicenter of evolving threats of terrorism. Coastal West African nations have been wary of Sahel-based threats and are keen on forging an alliance with US forces. “These engagements were invaluable opportunities to reinforce our commitment to our partners in West Africa,” said Anderson. “The terrorist threat has evolved, requiring increased vigilance and coordinated action. Partnerships and coordination in West Africa remain key to countering the escalating terrorism in the region. Without partnering to address terrorism, Africa becomes the next 9/11 source. We are here to strategically support efforts that strengthen and enable our African partners’ operational independence.”
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The French navy has seized nearly 10 tons of cocaine worth more than $600 million from a fishing vessel off the coast of west Africa, French authorities said. The seizure by two navy ships followed a tip-off by anti-drug and maritime intelligence authorities and British police, authorities in France’s north-western Atlantic Maritime region said. The operation was part of France’s Corymbe naval mission, which has been deployed in the Gulf of Guinea since 1990 to ensure security in an area where piracy is fairly common. “In total, 9.6 tons of cocaine with a market value of nearly 519 million euros ($609 million) was seized from a boat,” the Atlantic Maritime prefecture said, adding that the vessel was not registered in any country. By the end of August, the French navy had already seized nearly six tons of cocaine off the coast of west Africa. With more than 45 tons of drugs intercepted by the French navy, seizures made in 2025 have already reached a record, Admiral Nicolas Vaujour, Chief of Naval Staff, said at the time.
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