Nigeria’s Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla has said that interconnectivity of the sea and need to foster increased wealth creation for African states through a thriving blue economy, compels global strategies for enhanced maritime security to preserve underwater resources for safe and sustainable use.
Vice Admiral Ogalla made this known at the 14th Trans-Regional SEAPOWER Symposium holding in Venice, Italy in a paper he delivered titled “Preserving The Underwater-The Secure & Sustainable Use of The Underwater”
Ogalla highlighted the African Integrated Maritime Strategy (AIMS) which recognises that the underwater holds enormous resources crucial for advancing Africa’s Blue Economy.
He stated that “Nigerian’s maritime Area of Interest encompasses Nigeria’s internal waters, territorial sea, the Exclusive Economic Zone and the entire Gulf of Guinea.
“The area has enormous underwater resources and serves as a medium of seaborne trade which accounts for over 85% of Nigeria’s trade volume while having varieties of aquatic species and a reservoir of non-living natural resources including over 36 billion barrels of crude oil and 182 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves.
Furthermore, the CNS stated that “in line with the United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), about 60% of the oceans are outside the national jurisdiction which implies shared responsibility for preserving and securing the underwater.
“The interconnectivity of the sea also compels collectivism in global strategies for enhanced maritime security to preserve underwater resources for safe and sustainable use hence the AIMS sought to foster increased wealth creation from African states by developing a thriving blue economy in an environmentally stable manner, while preserving underwater resources.
A statement by Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, Director of Naval Information said, “The paper was well received as it underscored the need for unified global efforts to harness resources of sea for the common good.
“On the same day, the CNS had separate bilateral discussions with the Chief of the Italian Navy, Admiral Enrico Credendino and the American Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Admiral Lisa Franchetti.
“The CNS and the CNO discussed their enduring partnership and how U.S Navy ship visits and collaboration demonstrate shared commitment to security and stability in the region.
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“They further analysed how more opportunities to increase maritime cooperation and counter piracy efforts in the Gulf of Guinea could be facilitated.
“Admiral Franchetti thanked Vice Admiral Ogalla for Nigeria’s leadership in promoting maritime cooperation during exercises such as OBANGAME Express.
“For the Nigerian Navy, participation in the XIV Trans-regional Seapower Symposium was an opportunity to showcase the giant strides of NN having worked assiduously to eradicate piracy in Nigerian waters since 2022 and exiting the International Maritime Bureau list of Piracy Prone States.”
It further provided the platform for improved international cooperation, a necessity for trans-national maritime security.
A statement by Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, Director of Naval Information said, “The paper delivered by Admiral Ogalla was well received as it underscored the need for unified global efforts to harness resources of sea for the common good.
“On the same day, the CNS had separate bilateral discussions with the Chief of the Italian Navy, Admiral Enrico Credendino and the American Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Admiral Lisa Franchetti.
“The CNS and the CNO discussed their enduring partnership and how U.S Navy ship visits and collaboration demonstrate shared commitment to security and stability in the region.
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“They further analysed how more opportunities to increase maritime cooperation and counter piracy efforts in the Gulf of Guinea could be facilitated.
“Admiral Franchetti thanked Vice Admiral Ogalla for Nigeria’s leadership in promoting maritime cooperation during exercises such as OBANGAME Express.
“For the Nigerian Navy, participation in the XIV Trans-regional Seapower Symposium was an opportunity to showcase the giant strides of NN having worked assiduously to eradicate piracy in Nigerian waters since 2022 and exiting the International Maritime Bureau list of Piracy Prone States.
The CNS also held discussions with the Director of the International Hydrographic Organisation, Mr John Nyberg on the sidelines of the symposium which has as theme, “Spotlight on the depths: The Underwater as New Frontier for Mankind”.
