The 8th Symposium of Heads of Navies and CoastGuards of the Gulf of Guinea Region ended on a high note yesterday, 28 November 2024 at TRANSCORP Hilton Hotel Abuja with some concise communique issued to emphasised the need for robust legal frameworks that enable the prosecution of maritime crimes in the Gulf of Guinea.
Other concise communique issued were "Recognised the importance of having a Maritime Domain Awareness Centre of Excellence in the region to deepen understanding of the maritime environment for more elective security operations.
"Noted the ongoing review of the Yaoundé Code of Conduct, and committed to tasking a proposed Working Group to articulate views of the Heads of Navies and Coastguards for inclusion in the review process."
The Symposium was hosted by the Nigerian Navy with support from the French Navy. The Nigerian Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla was Chief Host.
On the first day of the Symposium, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ably represented by the NSA, Nuhu Ribadu applauded the Nigerian Navy and the collaborative, supportive efforts of international partners in advancing maritime security initiatives and promoting sustainable development of the Gulf of Guinea.
The last day of the Symposium included a closed door session where the Heads of Navies deliberated extensively on many strategies to sustain the improved maritime security of the Gulf of Guinea.
A concise communique was issued at the end the deliberations and it was agreed that the next meeting would be held in Senegal in November 2025.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla pledged that in line with statutory rules, the Nigerian Navy will continue to conduct maritime security operations and champion the process for international collaboration and security initiatives for the security of the Gulf of Guinea region.
About 30 heads of navies and coastguards from Gulf of Guinea countries and international partners such as European Union and the French Navy attended the 8th Symposium here in Nigeria.
