Rising from a three day Global Maritime Security Conference in Abuja , eighty countries have resolved to set up an Expert Group to implement the recommendations of the confab aimed at securing the Gulf of Guinea.
Addressing an International Press Conference marking the end of the event, Director General of Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr Dakuku Peterside said the expert group won’t take more than three months to be in place.
Peterside said various countries in the Gulf of Guinea and regional organisations like Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and others that are concerned.
He added that countries are not necessarily going to adopt a uniform approach in fighting maritime insecurity in their domains.
He also said efforts are on to ensure that perpetrators of illegal fishing and stolen oil do not benefit from their unlawful acts as efforts are going to be put in place to check the acts at the point of sales in the international markets.
A representative of the Chief of the Naval Staff of Nigerian Navy , Chief of Policy and Plans, Rear Admiral Begroy Ibe-Emwo also disclosed that the Navy will soon take delivery of additional 2 vessels to strengthen its patrol against illegal fishing.