One disturbing feature of the rising insecurity around the nation’s coastal line is massive loss of revenues. It is, therefore, not surprising when facts emerged recently that 98 per cent of Nigeria’s bulk trade is currently threatened by the spate of insecurity in the coastal region of the country. It is important to emphasise that Nigeria is a maritime nation with a coast line of about 420 nautical miles (nm) and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 200nm, which translate to about 84,000nm2 area.
Ordinarily, this natural endowment should be any nation’s pride. The potentials of a coastal line especially of the size of Nigeria can turn its economic fortunes around if optimally explored and protected. However, in the case of Nigeria, it is a sad commentary. The heightened spate of insecurity is precipitated by thieving militants, hostage takers, smugglers and sea pirates. Besides, the thriving oil bunkering and incessant pipeline vandalism in the coastal axes are making the matter worse.
Quite unfortunately, relevant government institutions have not been forthcoming with accurate daily statistics of revenue losses. In the opinion of economic analysts, the cost of the growing insecurity in the coastal region is devastating.
Worse still, the petro dollar installations and facilities where petroleum pipelines run through in these axis suffer wanton destruction in these hands economic saboteurs. The recurrence of the unwholesome scenario, in our view, is worrisome and it once again raises the fundamental question of general security challenge.
It would seem that the security agencies have buckled under the superior fire power and strategies of vandals, militants and smugglers operating on the high seas and in the creeks. Could this be a justification for the current arrangement of outsourcing security operations in the area at obscene cost to some ex-militants? The arrangement is not only weird and crude but also unprecedented.
Speaking at a seminar for Senior Course 37 of the Department of Maritime Warfare tagged “The Law of the Sea” in Jaji, Kaduna recently, the Commandant, Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), AVM John Chris Ifemeje, noted that the increasing insecurity in nation’s coastal region was gradually extending to the greater part of the Gulf of Guinea. He highlighted crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and illegal oil refineries as some of the major challenges.
Represented by the Deputy Commandant, Rear Admiral Sylvanus Abbah, the commandant stated: “Nigeria is a littoral state with a coastline of 420 nautical miles and vast sea space of 84, 000 square nautical miles. Within this area are living and non-living resources such as fish and crude oil which account for about 90 per cent of our foreign earnings. Adjunct to the foregoing is the fact that 98 per cent of Nigeria’s bulk trade is done through our maritime environment.
“These economic activities which extend to the greater Gulf of Guinea (GOG) have continued to pose some security challenges with attendant legal implications in recent times. Some of these challenges include crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and illegal oil refineries. Others are illegal oil bunkering and sea robbery. Aside from the economic haemorrhage, the insecurity oftentimes leads to loss of lives through hostage taking.
On the other hand, the incessant acts of vandalism on many occasions have led to environmental pollution. According to Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), “The impact of this is colossal because there is no month that we don’t have challenges in the federation accounts allocation; this certainly goes a long way to aggravate the situation’.
In the light of the crippling effects of these criminal activities, there is now a compelling need to return to the status quo and strengthen security agency that is constitutionally assigned the responsibility of securing the nation’s coastal territory.
The purpose of employing unorthodox method of policing our coastal line has been defeated. Besides, nowhere in the world, except in Nigeria, are such delicate and sensitive operations left in the hands private guards like the ex-criminals.
