Maritime piracy in Nigeria: The national security implications

The phenomenon of piracy in modern-day Africa’s maritime sphere brings to the fore a topical issue which is of immense political and economic interest particularly as maritime trade and globalisation reveal a close interface. The increasing tempo of piratic activities in the Gulf of Guinea has metamorphosed in to a serious security threat which must be speedily stemmed. Presently, Nigeria haemorrhages from all angles, with the menace of terrorism in the North, kidnappings and abductions in the centre, the added threat of piracy on her seaways spells doom for the nation’s maritime interests and consequently, her economic and national security. This work examines the socio- economic, political and environmental perspectives of the national security implications of sea piracy in the Gulf of Guinea with specific reference to the scourge in the coastal waters of Nigeria. It argues that unless Nigeria heavily invests in capacity building and provision of modern infrastructural support for her maritime defence sector and more importantly, enthrones good governance then her fate may well become worse than that of the failed state of Somalia where it is reported that $180 million was realised from ransom payments in 2008.