From Kenechukwu Obiajuru, Yenagoa
Coastal states in Nigeria have urged relevant authorities to expedite the harmonization of all maritime laws, including the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences (SPOMO) Act, to ensure more effective enforcement.
Speaking under the aegis of the Nigerian International Coastal Border Platform, member states — Bayelsa, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, Ondo, and Lagos — also called for the establishment of a robust community surveillance and intelligence-sharing framework for coastal security operations.
Presenting a 10-point communiqué at the end of the Platform’s inaugural summit in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, the Chairman and Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, stressed the need for increased awareness of maritime safety and security. According to him, such awareness will not only promote compliance with national and international maritime laws but also enable Nigeria to fully harness the opportunities of the blue economy.
In a statement issued over the weekend by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Doubara Atasi, the Platform further recommended that a percentage of revenue from maritime taxes and crude oil exports be dedicated to funding coastal security.
The communiqué also advocated investment in maritime transport services to stimulate economic activities between coastal communities along the Atlantic Ocean and neighbouring countries. Other resolutions included:
Ensuring a healthy maritime environment and effective border governance to combat pollution, protect mangroves, and prevent environmental degradation that could trigger economic hardship and insecurity.
Leveraging the African Integrated Border Governance Strategy and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to boost cross-border trade.
Integrating climate change resilience into maritime border policies.
Expanding social infrastructure in coastal communities.
Establishing a cross-border platform for regular engagement between coastal communities and neighbouring nations.
Declaring the summit open, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, commended the deputy governors for forming the Platform, noting the numerous challenges confronting Nigeria’s coastal states that require collective action.
The Deputy Governor of Delta State, Sir Monday Onyeme, expressed optimism that the Platform’s activities would strengthen border governance and help resolve disputes along coastal boundaries.
Other speakers, including Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor, Sen. Akon Eyakenyi; Ogun State Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele; Director-General of the National Boundary Commission, Surv. Adamu Adaji; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogana; and legal scholar Prof. Enefiok Essien, SAN, highlighted the strategic benefits of effective coastal border management to national security, environmental sustainability, and economic growth.
