Same Adah, Abuja
Nigeria has called on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to support the establishment of a regional maritime security force for the Gulf of Guinea, proposing that the Combined Maritime Task Force be headquartered in the country.
The initiative is aimed at strengthening regional efforts to combat piracy, kidnapping for ransom and other maritime crimes threatening security and commercial activities in the Gulf of Guinea.
Nigeria also urged the international community to provide predictable and sustainable funding for regional maritime operations and support the development of a shared maritime surveillance system to enhance cooperation among countries in the region.
The Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oluwafemi Adeniyi, disclosed this in a statement outlining Nigeria’s position at a UNSC High-Level Open Debate on the Maintenance of International Peace and Security, held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Nigeria’s position was presented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dunoma Ahmed, during the debate themed, “Emerging Technologies and Maritime Security: Implications for Peace and Security.”
Ahmed warned that organised criminal networks were increasingly exploiting emerging technologies, including satellite communications, to facilitate piracy, kidnapping for ransom and other maritime crimes across the Gulf of Guinea.
He, however, observed that governments could also deploy these technologies to strengthen maritime surveillance and reduce criminal activities, emphasising the importance of regional cooperation and information-sharing.
Highlighting Nigeria’s efforts to secure its maritime environment, Ahmed cited the Deep Blue Project, which integrates unmanned aerial vehicles, maritime domain awareness systems and an advanced central command and control centre to improve surveillance and response capabilities.
He also identified the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act, 2019, as a demonstration of Nigeria’s commitment to establishing a robust legal framework for prosecuting maritime offenders.
As part of its recommendations, Nigeria urged the Security Council to encourage international partners, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and other relevant institutions to support the development of a shared regional maritime security picture through the Yaoundé Architecture, in line with UNSC Resolution 2634 (2022).
According to Ahmed, the initiative would enable countries in the region to integrate their national surveillance systems, improve the exchange of security intelligence and strengthen regional ownership of maritime security operations, while maintaining appropriate human oversight.
He further called for fair and affordable access to maritime security technologies for developing coastal countries, warning that unequal access to innovation could widen existing capacity gaps and undermine efforts to combat maritime crimes.
On financing, Ahmed urged the Security Council to establish predictable and sustainable funding arrangements for regional maritime operations, drawing from the framework provided under UNSC Resolution 2719 (2023), which supports sustainable financing for African Union-led peace support operations.
He specifically advocated aligning the financing framework with the proposed Combined Maritime Task Force for the Gulf of Guinea, which is expected to be headquartered in Nigeria and was endorsed by the African Union Peace and Security Council in April 2025.
Ahmed reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to working with Gulf of Guinea countries, regional organisations, the African Union and the United Nations to improve maritime security and ensure safer waters for seafarers, coastal communities and international shipping.
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