Gulf of Guinea and maritime security challenges: The Nigerian experience

Abstract

Both member states and foreign investors have expressed concerns about the resource-rich but the maritime crime-infested environment of the Gulf of Guinea. The inability to evolve harmonized and uniformly domesticated laws have not helped in stabilising the maritime domain nor has the less patronage of space-based assets in maritime protection. It was against this background that this study engaged Regime Theory to investigate the maritime security challenges of the Gulf of Guinea. The study deconstructs maritime security challenges into the dearth of space-based technology for security and the lack of harmonized legal framework. The study employed a quantitative research design, data were elicited through an administered questionnaire using the scientific sampling technique of Krejcie and Morgan (1970). Findings from the study showed that less patronage of space-based technology has a negative effect on the maritime domain. Finding also revealed that the inability to harmonise the legal framework encourages maritime criminality. This study recommends that States and International partners should evolve an integrated space-based technology to jointly battle maritime crimes as such integrated webs of approach could overwhelm criminals within the maritime industry. The study also recommends that harmonisation of existing International and Regional laws with relevant State laws on kidnapping, firearms, and money laundering, should be taken seriously among countries in the Gulf of Guinea particularly Nigeria, such that uniformity in penalties should be pursued to avoid any of the states magnetizing maritime crimes