The Gulf of Guinea has become the most dangerous in the world for shipping because it accounts for 60 per cent of Africa crude oil production, five per cent of global fossil oil reserve, 2.7 per cent of fossil natural gas reserve globally, among many other advantages.
Former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dakuku Peterside, lamented that the illegal and unreported activities carried out at the Gulf of Guinea targeted at these resources has made international maritime bodies to mark the area as the most dangerous waterways in the world.
The Gulf of Guinea comprise of the ocean waters of countries ranging from Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, São Tomé and Príncipe, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola
The former NIMASA boss, who presented a paper titled, ‘Security in the Gulf of Guinea’ in the Edo State capital, Benin on Friday, said the unique ecosystem in the Gulf of Guinea has attracted global attention and its attendance danger in the waterways, making it to account for 95 per cent global kidnappings at sea.
According to him, “both the United Nations office of drugs and crimes, the International Maritime Bureau, and the International Maritime Organistions classified the Gulf of Guinea as one of the most dangerous maritime areas in the world, at least this was the case in 2018, 2019 and 2020.
“For many reasons, the Gulf of Guinea is a place of interest Internationally. It is a place of interest to those who are into shipping and fishing. So for diverse reasons, the ecosystem of the Gulf of Guinea is unique. It is the second or third largest in the world.”
Giving account of some of the dangerous activities carried out in the Gulf, Peterside said, “The Gulf of Guinea accounts for 95 per cent global kidnappings at sea. As of 2019, we had 111 cases of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, while piracy is also rampant there with 120,000 barrels of crude oil stolen daily as at 2020.”
Two months ago, the International Maritime Bureau reported that piracy and armed robbery at sea fell to the lowest level in 27 years in the first half of 2021 with 68 incidents, the global body urged caution against complacency, especially in the Gulf of Guinea which continues to pose the highest risk to seafarers.
For example, the region accounted for all 50 kidnapped crew and the single crew fatality recorded by IMB Piracy Reporting Centre during the first half of 2021.
The number of kidnappings recorded in the Gulf of Guinea in the second quarter is the lowest since Q2 2019, but pirates continue to target all vessel types throughout the region. IMB warns that fishing vessels have been hijacked and later used as mother ships to target other merchant vessels.
In early June, a bulk carrier was approached by a skiff with six pirates while transitioning through the region at around 210nm off the coast of Lagos. In early June, a bulk carrier was approached by a skiff with six pirates while transitioning through the region at around 210nm off the coast of Lagos.
“Whilst IMB welcomes reduced piracy and armed robbery activity in the Gulf of Guinea, the risk to seafarers still remains,” said IMB Director Michael Howlett. “By reporting all incidents to the Regional Authorities and IMB PRC, seafarers can maintain pressure against pirates. Bringing together maritime response authorities through initiatives – like Nigeria’s Deep Blue Project and Gulf of Guinea Maritime Collaboration Forum – will continue and strengthen knowledge sharing channels and reduce risk to seafarers in the region.”