Gulf of Guinea: The most dangerous Coastal way in the world
THE former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has disclosed that the illegal and unreported activities carried out in the Gulf of Guinea have made global bodies to mark it as the most dangerous waterway in the world.
He spoke yesterday in his paper titled: “Security in the Gulf of Guinea,” at a programme organised by Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), for its School of Ecology in Benin, the Edo State capital, with the theme: “Politics of the Sea.”
Peterside, who made his presentation through zoom, said the reason the Gulf of Guinea had become the most dangerous in the world was because it accounted for 60 per cent of Africa’s crude oil production, five per cent of global fossil oil reserve, and 2.7 per cent of fosil natural gas reserve globally, thereby attracting foreigners.
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He said: “The United Nations Office of Drugs and Crimes, the International Maritime Bureau and the International Maritime Organisations classify the Gulf of Guinea as one of the most dangerous maritime areas in the world. This was the case in 2018, 2019 and 2020.”
“The Gulf of Guinea is a place of interest internationally and continentally. It is also a place of interest to those who are into shipping and fishing. So, for diverse reasons, the ecosystem of the Gulf of Guinea is unique.
“The Gulf of Guinea accounts for 2.7 per cent of fossil natural gas reserve globally, and it is one of the richest fishing grounds globally. This is because some of the fish species you may find in the Gulf of Guinea, you may not find them anywhere in the world. So it is a unique ecosystem.
“The Gulf of Guinea accounts for 95 per cent of global kidnappings at sea. As at 2019, we had 111 cases of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. Piracy is also significant in the Gulf of Guinea. One hundred and twenty thousand barrels of crude oil were stolen daily in the Gulf of Guinea as at 2020.”
