Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla says Africa’s maritime resources could generate $405 billion for countries of the continent by 2030 if properly harnessed.
Admiral Ogalla also said the maritime resources could generate 57 million jobs, insisting that the maritime potentials of the continent are enormous.
Admiral Ogalla spoke during the week in South Africa when he, along with Heads of Navies across the African continent, gathered under the auspices of the 5th Sea Power for Africa Symposium (SPAS) to discuss strategies for safeguarding Africa’s expansive and resource wealth maritime domain.
The Symposium, themed “Good Order at Sea in the African Maritime Domain,” highlighted the vital role of maritime security in unlocking Africa’s economic potential while addressing growing concerns over non-traditional threats, such as piracy, illegal fishing and other maritime crimes.
Accompanied by Rear Admiral Noel Musa Madugu, the Naval Director of Administration, and joined by Commodore Chikaji Aminu Isah, Nigeria’s Defence Attache to South Africa, Admiral Ogalla said in his keynote address that the sustainable management of these resources is crucial, as they are key drivers of economic growth and food security.
He emphasised that Africa’s maritime future is guided by the African Integrated Maritime Strategy (AIMS), which aims to foster wealth creation by developing an ocean economy within a secured maritime domain.
“This vision is further supported by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), which is projected to increase intra-African freight by 28 per cent and demand for maritime transport by 62 per cent,” he noted, adding that with a significant portion of global trade passing through African waters, maritime activities contribute more than 20 per cent of national revenues for some African countries.
“However, the richness of these waters and the intense economic activities within them expose our maritime domain to a range of non-traditional threats, posing significant challenges to regional stability,” he observed.
Ogalla pointed out that addressing these challenges requires a united effort, urging African Navies and Coast Guards to strengthen security architecture across the continent.
Citing Nigeria, Admiral Ogalla said Nigeria is a key player in the fight against maritime crimes with an extensive maritime domain that includes the Gulf of Guinea.
He said that the Nigerian Navy’s implementation of a Total Spectrum Maritime Strategy incorporating a “Trinity-of-Action” approach that combines surveillance, rapid response and law enforcement has removed Nigeria from the list of piracy-prone countries in March 2022, a status the country has maintained.