Maritime Security Challenge in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea

Abstract

The sole aim of this paper is to appraise maritime security challenges in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea. This implies that the paper will analyse the concept, practices and concerns on maritime security in the study areas (Nigeria and Gulf of Guinea) while identifying the challenges facing maritime security in the study areas. The study also makes a recommendation on the ideal and effective means of tackling the issues of maritime security challenges in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea. To attain the aforesaid aim of this paper, the researcher applies and adopts a desk-review approach – a kind of qualitative methodology of research – for this research paper. By virtue of the desk-review approach or methodology of research as adopted and applied for this paper, the researcher was able to utilise secondary sources of data and other existing works of literature such as articles, seminar papers, textbooks, reports and policies through which valid, credible and reliable information can be accessed and utilised. Amongst the findings made in this paper are that Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea have a large expanse of the water body. The study finds that the maritime security challenges in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea range from hostage-taking, oil theft, piracy and armed robbery at the sea. The study finds that the maritime security challenges have affected maritime transport and security of vessels in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea. The study also found that maritime security challenges in the region affected investment in Nigeria, the Gulf of Guinea and other neighbouring territories in severe ways. The maritime security challenges have affected the shipping of cargo goods, fishing trawlers, crude oil tankers, etc. in the study areas. Also, the study ascertains that the maritime security challenges in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea have brought about the illegal establishment of offshore trading and transactions in crude oil and refined petroleum as well as bunkering. The contribution of the study to theory, practice and policy are that the paper did not only appraise the issue of maritime security challenge in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea; it also makes comprehensive and ideal recommendations that could be adopted to mitigate the issues of maritime security challenges in the areas.