There are rising concerns that the disruptions in key global shipping routes following the crisis in the Red Sea, Suez Canal, Panama Canal and Black Sea, may signal unprecedented piracy challenges for global trade in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG).
The United Nations (UN) Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) recently said hundreds of giant container ships more than 300m (984ft) long, are now rerouting around Africa from Asia to Europe.
According to the UNCTAD report, an estimated 12 per cent of global trade worth over $1 trillion passes through the Red Sea every year. However, the recent trend has caused the rerouting of trade through Africa.
The Director-General of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Bashir Jamoh, warned that current research has shown that the diversion of vessels through Africa due to the crisis, will expose the Gulf of Guinea to another piracy attacks, which countries in the region will not be able to contain.
“The current research shows that the problem in the Red Sea and the war in Russia and Ukraine as well as Israel and Palestine have caused so many vessels to change directions towards the Gulf of Guinea. With the increased vessel diversion to the Gulf of Guinea and the increase of wars in those areas, we will have an overwhelming exposure to piracy again and our security platforms will not be able to contain them,” he warned.
He said member countries in the region are now taking this study seriously to see how they can reinforce to maintain the low record of piracy attacks in the Gulf of Guinea and zero incidents in Nigeria.
Jamoh stated further that maritime safety is crucial to global trade, yet it is the most vulnerable in terms of safety. He said member countries must avoid a repeat of 2020 which saw an increase in piracy incidents with 47 recorded in the Gulf of Guinea and 35 in Nigeria’s territorial waters.
Jamoh also rolled out maritime security statistics in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea, which showed a significant decline in piracy and other maritime crimes since the implementation of the Deep Blue project and heightened partnership with the Nigerian Navy as well as other regional and international partners.
