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Piracy, Armed Robbery in Gulf of Guinea Has Reduced- Touray
Piracy, Armed Robbery in Gulf of Guinea Has Reduced- Touray
By: Michael Mike
The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray has said that the Gulf of Guinea has continued to witness a downward trend in piracy and armed robbery attacks over the year.
He noted that this was achieved through the efforts of the Inter-regional Coordination Centre, ICC, insisting that its achievements in maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea is quite commendable.
Touray made this known at the 4th Annual Meeting of the Heads of Institution (HOI) of the ICC, at the ECOWAS Commission Headquarters in Abuja, on Thursday.
ICC was created in September 2014 by ECOWAS, the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC) with the mission of serving as the Coordination Centre on maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea following the 2013 Yaoundé Summit of ECOWAS, ECCAS and GGC Heads of State and Government.
Touray in his address on Thursday, said: “Since the Political Declaration of our Heads of State, substantial progress has been made in our maritime community.
”This included the adoption of National Maritime Strategies and the deployment of critical maritime infrastructure that has improved maritime situational awareness.
“With regards to our MoU, some progress has been achieved by the governing body on inter-institutional coordination.
”The Coordination Centre receives funding, and its annual Work Plan and Budget are approved, including the operations of Maritime Operational Centres.”
Touray added that the importance ICC for global maritime security and safety cannot be wished away, noting that it attracted the interest of many development partners.
He listed them to include the G77++ Friends of the Gulf of Guinea, the European Union, the German Federal Government and the Chinese Government for their different support and assistance.
He said: “Their assistance has contributed to our success in establishing the ECOWAS Regional Maritime Security Centre (CRESMAO) in Abidjan, with three Multinational Maritime Coordination Centres (MMCC) in Cotonou (Zone E), in Accra (Zone F), and in Praia (Zone G).
“Similarly, the ECCAS Maritime Security Architecture established a Regional Centre for Maritime Security in Central Africa (CRESMAC) in Pointe Noire, as well as Multinational Maritime Coordination Centres in Douala (Zone D) and in Luanda (Zone A).
“The establishment of maritime information sharing networks between ECOWAS and ECCAS have improved information sharing and situational awareness.”
Touray while noting that the Gulf of Guinea has continued to witness a downward trend in piracy and armed robbery attacks, added that: “According to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), actual and attempted piracy and sea robbery incidents saw a downturn trend from 31 in 2015, 18 in 2021 to 15 in 2022.
“Incidences of piracy and armed robbery further declined to 6 attacks in the first quarter of 2024 in the Gulf of Guinea. This is thanks to our institutional actions and collective responses.”
Touray, however, stated that in spite of such laudable progress, the ICC had serious challenges, which included non-recruitment of key staff, irregular funding, and breakdown of essential services.
He said that there was still a need for regular review of the progress and challenges on the level of implementation of the Declaration, stressing that it was important to take concrete steps to address the challenges.
“The Code of Conduct on the Prevention and Suppression of Acts of Piracy, Armed Robbery Against Ships and Illicit Maritime Activities in West and Central Africa was supposed to be turned into a legally binding Agreement three years after its adoption in Yaoundé in 2013.
“Thus far, we have not achieved this after the 10th Year Anniversary of the Yaoundé process. It is therefore important that we critically appraise our institutional responses on the Code of Conduct,” he said.
Touray urged the ICC governing body, which comprises the Presidents of the Commissions of ECOWAS and ECCAS, and the Executive Secretary of the GGC, to review a new EU project, ‘Safe Seas’ for the region and the Yaoundé Architecture Regional Information Sharing (YARIS) tool.
He also called on member states to streamline development corporations and partnerships to ensure that ICC provided the necessary oversight to guide the Coordination Centre.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Gulf of Guinea Commission, Jose Abeso, said the region was still facing the challenges of maritime insecurity, stressing that the objective was to eliminate all forms of criminality in the domain.
He said that the law on criminal activities in the maritime sector in the Gulf of Guinea should be harmonized to act as effective detriments against committing such crimes.
“Our maritime domain is the next destination for the sustainable economic development of our countries.
”Our governments cannot or should not leave the running of institutions meant to patrol this area, to ensure that security and safety of activities is not left to third parties,” Abeso said.
Participants at the event included the President of the Commission of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), Gilberto Verissimo.
Others were the representative of the UN Office for West Africa and Sahel (UNOWAS) and that of the UN Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA).
Piracy, Armed Robbery in Gulf of Guinea Has Reduced- Touray
News
“Yobe Govt Spends Over 7.9Billion on Basic and Secondary Education” ~Commissioner
“Yobe Govt Spends Over 7.9Billion on Basic and Secondary Education” ~Commissioner
By: Our Reporter
The Commissioner, Yobe State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Dr. Abba Idriss Adam has disclosed that Yobe State Government has adequate allocation for the ministry and the Governor of Yobe State, Hon. Mai Mala Buni has never turned down the ministry’s requests.
The Commissioner made the disclosure today 7th November, 2024 following a report published by Sahara Reporters with the title; “Yobe Government spends 3.8billion on Sitting Allowances, Presidential Chalets, Records Zero Expenditure on Basic Education”.
Speaking on behalf of the Commissioner, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alh. Bukar Aji Bukar stated that the state government had spent over 7.9billion naira in the sector. This includes; the schools construction and renovations, school feedings, examination fees (WAEC, NECO, NABTEB) transportation for exchange students, procurement of instructional materials as well as UBEC counterpart funds. These are numerous to mention. “This is to tell you that we have adequate allocation for basic and secondary education”. He added.
“You can also recall that since the inception of Hon. Mai Mala Buni, the state government has declared state of emergency on primary and secondary education. The initiative which was to build a solid, vibrant and robust foundation for the development of education and revitalize it to address emerging challenges in the state and this is making a great impact in the sector”.
Alh. Bukar Aji Bukar then called on the well-meaning Nigerians more especially the journalists to always fact check their information before going to the public.
“Yobe Govt Spends Over 7.9Billion on Basic and Secondary Education” ~Commissioner
News
ZETSI Africa Recognizes Borno State’s ICT Achievements
ZETSI Africa Recognizes Borno State’s ICT Achievements
By: Our Reporter
The Zero Tolerance for Social Immorality (ZETSI) Africa has lauded the Borno State Information and Communication Technology Development Agency (BICTDA) for its outstanding achievements. ZETSI awarded the agency’s Executive Secretary, Engr. Mohammed Ahmed Kabir Wanori, for his exceptional leadership.
Governor Engr Babagana Umara Zulum’s 25-year strategic plan and 10-pack agenda have driven significant human capital development in the state. Notably, BICTDA has established 14 digital divide hubs across Borno within just eight months.
Amb. Maje the country director for ZETSI praised Governor Zulum’s vision, stating, “In just eight months, Borno State has made remarkable strides in digital development, a testament to the Governor’s strategic leadership.”
Engr. Wanori expressed gratitude for the recognition and pledged to partner with ZETSI for a brighter future for the youth.
ZETSI Africa Recognizes Borno State’s ICT Achievements
News
ECOWAS Court Orders Sierra Leone to Repeal Loitering Laws Violating Human Rights
ECOWAS Court Orders Sierra Leone to Repeal Loitering Laws Violating Human Rights
By: Michael Mike
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice, has on Thursday ordered Sierra Leone to amend, modify, or repeal its laws on loitering in public places to comply with the country’s obligations under Articles 1, 2, 3(1), and 12(1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
A Sierra Leonean NGO, Advocaid Ltd, had filed an application with the Court on 12 April 2022 challenging certain provisions of Sierra Leone’s Public Order Act, Summary Conviction Offences Ordinance, and Criminal Procedure Act which authorise the police to arrest any person who is idle in a public place and cannot give a good account of himself or herself.
The Applicant contended that maintaining and enforcing these laws violate the principles of non-discrimination, equality before the law, and freedom of movement, particularly concerning impoverished and marginalized people.
In the Judgment delivered by Justice Edward Asante Amoako, the Judge Rapporteur, the Court found that the loitering laws perpetuate discrimination against economically disadvantaged individuals, violating the right to non-discrimination and equal protection under Articles 2 and 3(1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Additionally, the laws impose unwarranted restrictions on freedom of movement, contrary to Article 12(1) of the African Charter.
The Court also noted that vague terms in the loitering laws, such as “idle” and “disorderly,” create opportunities for arbitrary enforcement and do not meet standards of legality, necessity, and proportionality in a democratic society.
Accordingly, the ECOWAS Court ordered Sierra Leone to undertake legislative reforms to amend, modify, or repeal these loitering laws to comply with its human rights obligations under the African Charter.
The Court further directed each party to bear its own costs in the suit.
Also on the three-member panel were Honourable Justices Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves, presiding and Dupe Atoki, member.
ECOWAS Court Orders Sierra Leone to Repeal Loitering Laws Violating Human Rights
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