Nigeria Content Online

Experts from the
European Commission (EC) have embarked on a “fact finding mission”
aimed at providing a solution to the worsening state of insecurity in
the Gulf of Guinea.

The EC team, which
is to work in conjunction with officials from the National Drug Law
Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), during a visit to the anti-drug peddling
agency at the weekend, said that their task in the region is based on
how to address the problems of trafficking of hard drugs, smuggling of
arms, and other related crimes. “We are on a fact finding mission on
how to tackle drug trafficking, piracy, illegal arms dealing, illegal
fishing and the state of insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea,” said
Olivier Villedieu De Torcy, the leader of the team.

The Gulf of Guinea
runs from Guinea, on Africa’s North-Western tip, to Gabon in the South,
and includes Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo,
and Cameroon. Among the many rivers that drain into the Gulf of Guinea
are the Niger and the Volta. The coastline on the gulf includes the
Bight of Benin and the Bight of Bonny. Mr De Torcy explained that the
team had been to Cameroun, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon, adding that
the experts will get to other countries within the Gulf, and will
assess existing plans at regional levels aimed at addressing the
problems. “Equally important to the team is the interest of visiting
countries supporting security in the region,” he said.

A timely intervention

Describing the
visit as “timely,” Ahmadu Giade, the Chief Executive of the NDLEA, said
that Nigeria had long been working on peace initiatives for the Gulf of
Guinea in line with the United Nations political declaration, and that
the agency had participated in various round table sessions aimed at
addressing the issue. “We welcome this move by the European Commission
in the implementation of peace plan in the Gulf of Guinea,” he said.
“It will further strengthen existing efforts to address the nagging
issues of drug trafficking and insecurity in the region. Nigeria is
willing to enlarge its support in the interest of enduring peace at the
Gulf of Guinea.”

According to the agency’s boss, pervasive insecurity in the Gulf
has resulted in huge financial losses that have significantly
constrained investment and economic prospects in the sub-region.