By Oluyinka Onigbinde
The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), in collaboration with the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), has emphasized the need for deeper cooperation, intelligence sharing, and the deployment of advanced technologies to tackle security threats in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG).
At the opening of a three-day Regional Workshop on Maritime Border Security held in Lagos on Tuesday, speaking at the event, the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, called for the establishment of a regional Joint Task Force to combat rising criminal activities and security threats in the Gulf of Guinea, emphasizing the need for enhanced coordination and collective action among member states.
The minister described the Gulf of Guinea as a strategically vital but persistently vulnerable maritime zone.
He stressed the urgency of exploring new strategies and strengthening coordination among coastal nations to address piracy, smuggling, human trafficking, and other transnational crimes.
“It is imperative that we explore innovative strategies and leverage collective expertise to confront the multifaceted challenges in the Gulf of Guinea,” Tunji-Ojo said. “This includes fostering stronger coordination mechanisms, enhancing intelligence sharing, and deploying advanced technological solutions to bolster maritime domain awareness.” he said.
Speaking earlier the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, said the Nigeria Immigration Service is committed to playing a leading role in the fight against transnational organized crimes within the maritime domain. She stated that the NIS will prioritize cooperation, professionalism, and the use of cutting-edge technologies in surveillance and border management.
“The theme of this Workshop, “Maritime Border Security in the Context of Counter-Terrorism in the Gulf of Guinea”, is apt and timely in evaluating and rethinking security under the present circumstances of evolving maritime threats,” Nandap said.
She noted that threats such as piracy, terrorism, human trafficking, and the smuggling of arms and migrants require an integrated approach. “Our threats are transnational, and so must be our response,” she added, highlighting the need for regional and international collaboration, adherence to relevant protocols, and the strengthening of joint intelligence mechanisms.
Also speaking at the event, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, identified critical areas that must be addressed to secure the maritime domain. He aligned with CGI Nandap’s call for inter-agency cooperation and stressed the need for maintaining a credible terrorist database and strengthening community engagement around maritime zones.
“What I would like to add is born out of similar experiences that we’ve had in the global customs community under the auspices of the World Customs Organisation (WCO),” Adeniyi said. He pointed out the pivotal role of the WCO’s West and Central African unit in addressing maritime security threats in the region and praised the presence of Vincent Jendi of the Cameroon Customs Administration.
Adeniyi emphasized the importance of tackling terrorism financing and drug trafficking as two major enablers of terrorism. “Terrorists around this place leverage the gaps in our financial systems. Some get involved in illegal mining, kidnapping, and human trafficking to fund their operations. We must understand how they use financial systems and integrate that into our counterterrorism strategies,” he stated.
He also commended the Honourable Minister of Interior for leading reforms in border management and security within Nigeria, stating that the quiet revolution at home can be replicated across the Gulf of Guinea region.
The three-day workshop, which continues until May 22, 2025, brings together key stakeholders from Gulf of Guinea states, international organizations, and security agencies to formulate actionable strategies for maritime security in the region.
