Nigerian Developments
1) Progress update from the Nigerian Industry Working Group, NIWG:
A joint Working Group was established in May 2020 , comprising the, the Ministry of Transport, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Ports Authority, Marine Police Interpol, the oil industry (represented by OCIMF) and shipping industry (represented by ICS, BIMCO, INTERCARGO, INTERTANKO and the Nigerian Shipowners’ Association) in order to facilitate coordination between government and industry and align efforts to deter and respond to incidents of piracy and armed robbery in Nigerian territorial waters and EEZ.
Since the NIWG was established, considerable progress has been made to deepen collaboration between agencies and navies, build operational response capabilities, develop more robust reporting frameworks and share best practice between Government and industry. At a regulatory level, Nigeria is now working directly with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in developing a National Maritime Security Strategy and Nigeria has formally endorsed the industry’s Best Management Practices West Africa (BMP WA) guidance. Also, following the entry into force of, Nigeria’s Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act, 2019 (SPOMO Act), prosecutions are underway.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation recently issued a notice, dated 5th October, attached below, warning ships not to disable their AIS system when underway of at anchor in Nigerian waters.