The Chief of Naval Staff, CNS Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo has disclosed that the International Maritime Bureau report of 3 March 2022 shows that Nigeria has exited the IMB’s Piracy List.
The CNS who was represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans, Naval headquarters, Rear Admiral Saidu Garba during a press briefing as part of activities to mark the 2022 Naval week in Abuja said that this means that Nigeria is no longer in the list of piracy prone countries.
He added that the consequences are enormous and positive for the shipping industry, general maritime commerce, and the national economy.
Speaking on strategic collaboration, the Chief of naval staff noted that the Nigerian Navy has continually collaborated with International and Regional partners.
He revealed that the Service has collaborated with the International Police especially in the area of information gathering for actionable intelligence towards combating piracy and other crimes within Nigeria’s maritime domain.
He stressed that such collaboration led to the arrest of MV CHAYANEE NAREE in October 2021 for conveying 33kg of cocaine worth 1.5 million US Dollars from Brazil to Lagos.
He explained that the Conference is scheduled to hold at the Onne Port Multi-Purpose Centre, Rivers State with the theme, “Optimising Collaboration for Maritime Security and Socio-Economic Development in Africa”.
The CNS added that the Exercise will be flagged off at the Federal Ocean Terminal, also in Onne, Rivers State, noting that the IMCREMEX 2022 is poised to enhance regional cooperation and boost effort towards collective security of the maritime domain.
He said that the Special Guest of Honour at the Conference is His Excellency, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari GCFR.
