OPEC declares support for global maritime security conference in Nigeria

... as Dakuku confirms over 80 countries’ attendance

By Samson Echenim

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) says the Nigerian government has taken a laudable step for accepting to host the Global Maritime Security conference stressing that the conference will go a long way to address concerns of security of the maritime domain of the entire Gulf of Guinea.

Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo, secretary – general of OPEC, noted that the Gulf of Guinea is strategic to the stability of oil production globally.

“The Gulf of Guinea is a major shipping route and any infraction in the area is largely felt beyond the region. This conference is timely in bringing together the relevant and critical stakeholders to allow them to discuss in a constructive manner what concerted action could be undertaken to ensure the sustainable use and long term security of this important and strategic body of ocean,” Barkindo said in a statement to the conference’s organising committee.

The OPEC boss also said that the conference would create renewed confidence in investment in the oil and

gas sector in the Gulf of Guinea, thus having” a multiplier effect of addressing the challenges associated with the sector globally.”

Meanwhile Dakuku Peterside, chairman of the Association of African Maritime Administration, AAMA, has confirmed the participation of over 80 countries at the GMSC 2019 in Abuja Nigeria.

While speaking at a workshop organized by the international chamber of shipping, Dakuku said the conference provides the platform for stakeholders of all shades to brainstorm and collectively find a solution to resolve the challenges of maritime insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea.

Dakuku who is also the director-general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and safety Agency, NIMASA assured participants of a successful event in Nigeria.

The Global Maritime Security Conference 2019 Is a high-level maritime Security Conference hosted by Nigeria. Several thematic sessions are scheduled for deliberation at the conference. These include maritime security, legal framework and regulatory issues in the Gulf of Guinea; maritime governance and the blue economy; enhancing maritime domain awareness, maritime security partnership: the roles of civil society; maritime security: evolving roles, models, mission and capability. Others include future of maritime security: trends,emerging threat vectors and capability requirements; technology deployment in maritime security: emerging issues; and maritime security: moving beyond policy statements to taking collective actions, among others.

The Gulf Of Guinea is the north easternmost part of the tropical Atlantic Ocean between cape Lopez in Gabon, North and West to Cape Palmas in Liberia. Countries In the Gulf of Guinea include Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, São Tomé and Príncipe, Republic Of Congo, Democratic Republic Of Congo, Angola.O