In a bid to curb rising maritime crimes and terrorism in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG), top security agencies including the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Police Force, and international counterparts have convened in Lagos for a high-level Regional Workshop on Maritime Border Security.
The workshop, hosted by the NIS, brought together regional and international security experts to strategize on combating piracy, terrorism, human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and other transnational crimes plaguing the Gulf of Guinea.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Comptroller-General of the NIS, Mrs. Kemi Nandap, highlighted the urgency of coordinated efforts to address maritime threats. She noted that the Atlantic corridor of the Gulf—particularly off Nigeria’s coast—is a notorious hotspot for piracy, illegal oil bunkering, and armed robbery at sea, undermining regional stability and economic development.
“This workshop is timely for evaluating and rethinking security strategies in light of evolving maritime threats,” said Nandap. “We aim to enhance cooperation, build capacity, and deploy advanced surveillance and communication systems for early detection and rapid response.”
Themed “Maritime Border Security in the Context of Counter-Terrorism in the Gulf of Guinea,” the event reinforces regional commitments to the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the 2050 Africa Integrated Maritime Strategy. Nandap emphasized the importance of regional collaboration, border surveillance, and the use of technology such as the Advance Passenger Information/Passenger Name Record (API/PNR) systems in strengthening maritime security.
She also reiterated the NIS’s commitment to expanding its Border Management Information System (BMIS) to cover marine frontiers, ensuring robust document verification and the prevention of cross-border crimes.
Also speaking, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, called for urgent reforms to close financial loopholes exploited by terror networks to fund maritime crimes. Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, revealed plans to boost marine policing capabilities, while Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, commended the NIS for spearheading border security reforms, pledging federal support for tough but necessary security decisions.
The workshop also reviewed recent regional actions, including the February 2025 ECOWAS Chiefs of Naval Staff meeting in Cabo Verde, and reiterated commitment to frameworks such as the Yaoundé Code of Conduct (2013) and the ECOWAS Integrated Maritime Strategy.
Delegates from countries including Italy, the Philippines, Germany, the UK, Denmark, Ghana, Cameroon, and Benin Republic attended the workshop, which is expected to produce a compendium of best practices and actionable strategies to guide future operations.
“The threats we face are transnational, and so must be our response,” Nandap concluded. “This gathering must end with concrete action plans and a renewed resolve to protect the Gulf of Guinea as a zone of peace, security, and shared prosperity.”
