President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has stated that he is committed to providing a secure maritime environment and making it free from threats such as piracy or other criminal activities, News About Nigeria reports.
He said this while speaking at the 2024 International Maritime Conference in Lagos, held to commemorate the Nigerian Navy’s 68th anniversary, at the Naval Dockyard Limited, Victoria Island, Lagos.
He noted that a secure maritime environment will be helpful in sustaining Africa’s blue economy, adding that the continent is very rich and endowed with living and non-living resources, including vast strategic economic resources in its blue economy.
The President, while commending the Nigerian Navy’s efforts in confronting security challenges in the maritime domain and partnering with other agencies to mitigate threats, expressed his administration’s commitment to supporting the Nigerian Navy’s statutory responsibilities and regional and international collaboration efforts to provide a secure environment for Africa’s blue economy to thrive.
Represented by the Vice President, Kashmi Shettima, Tinubu acknowledged the transnational nature of maritime threats and the need for greater international collaboration to address them.
According to him, the conference, with the theme “Promoting the Blue Economy in Africa through International Cooperation on Maritime Security,” aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14, the Vision of Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy 2050, and Africa’s Agenda 2063.
He also emphasised the importance of international cooperation in maritime security to unlock the vast potential of Africa’s blue economy.
“Since its formation 68 years ago, the Nigerian Navy has imbibed the realities of our national imperatives and has continued to confront contending issues, by adopting the most optimal policies and strategies to address the rapidly changing security challenges in our nation.
“As an important branch of our armed forces, the Navy has over the years evolved and reinvented itself to effectively deal with the threats in the maritime domains. It has also partnered with other maritime agencies to mitigate these threats affecting our national development. However, these threats have become transnational, beyond the scope and capability of one nation to deal with them. The situation calls for greater international collaboration.
“Our continent is very rich and endowed with living and non-living resources, having vast strategic economic resources in its blue economy. A secured maritime environment, one that is free from threats such as piracy or other criminal activities, is essential for the sustainability of Africa’s blue economy,” he stated.
