The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside has welcomed the European Union (EU) plans to invest over 20million euros on maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.
The DG stated this while receiving a delegation of the EU consultants led by Mr. Chris Hedley to the headquarters of NIMASA on Monday.
Dr. Peterside commended the EU for such an initiative and also called on other partners to collaborate with the Agency and Nigeria to eradicate the piracy and other criminal activities in the Gulf of Guinea.
He said “more than ever, Nigeria is better positioned to take advantage of strategic partnerships to make the country the hub of maritime activities in West and Central Africa”.
The NIMASA DG who observed that the Gulf of Guinea is very strategic to world trade also assured the delegation of the Agency’s determination to tackle the menace of crime at sea in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
Earlier in his address, Mr. Chris Hedley said the EU planned to use the funds in developing and strengthening legislations, building capacity in maritime security and developing the necessary Information Technology (IT) for member Nations with a view to eradicating piracy and other related crimes in the Gulf of Guinea.
