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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
ECOWAS Leaders Warn Democracy Must Deliver and Peace Must Be Built as West Africa Faces Rising Instability
ECOWAS Leaders Warn Democracy Must Deliver and Peace Must Be Built as West Africa Faces Rising Instability
By: Michael Mike
West African leaders have issued a joint warning that democracy in the region is under growing strain and must begin to produce visible results for citizens, while also stressing that peace cannot be imposed but must be deliberately built through dialogue and cooperation.
The concerns were raised at the opening of the 2026 First Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament held on Monday in Abuja, where regional lawmakers gathered amid rising insecurity, democratic reversals, and increasing public dissatisfaction across parts of West Africa.
Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, warned that the survival of democratic governance in the sub-region now depends on its ability to deliver tangible outcomes in security, economic stability, and public welfare.
He said while citizens across West Africa continue to reject military rule, their patience with democratic systems is weakening due to poor governance outcomes and rising socio-economic hardship.
Abbas noted that declining voter trust, weak institutions, and recurring unconstitutional changes of government reflect deeper structural problems that democratic systems must urgently address.
“The issue is not whether democracy remains the preferred system, but whether it is delivering sufficiently to sustain that preference,” he said, warning that governance failures could further expand the space for instability.
The Nigerian Speaker also pushed for a stronger and more empowered ECOWAS Parliament, arguing that its current advisory status limits its ability to respond effectively to regional crises.
He renewed calls for reforms including enhanced legislative authority, stronger oversight powers, and improved enforcement mechanisms for regional agreements.
According to him, previous proposals to strengthen the Parliament have yet to be fully implemented, but the present instability across the region makes such reforms more urgent.
“A Parliament with limited influence cannot adequately respond to democratic reversals, security pressures, and economic uncertainty,” Abbas said.
Abbas also defended Nigeria’s recent economic reforms, including fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate unification, describing them as difficult but necessary decisions taken within a democratic framework.
He said early results show increased fiscal inflows to subnational governments and improved capacity for infrastructure and social investment, while acknowledging that challenges persist.
He argued that Nigeria’s experience demonstrates that even tough reforms can be implemented without resorting to military intervention, warning against a growing tendency toward unconstitutional power shifts in parts of the region.
In a separate address, the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hadja Mémounatou Ibrahima, stressed that peace in West Africa cannot be declared or imposed by authority, but must be carefully built over time.
She said the region is facing a period of heightened geopolitical uncertainty, adding that “no region is immune” to the global spread of instability and conflict.
“The message must be clear: peace cannot be decreed — it must be patiently built through dialogue, cooperation, and mutual respect,” she said, urging member states to deepen collaboration in addressing shared challenges.
Ibrahima also highlighted ongoing reforms within the regional bloc, noting that ECOWAS is undergoing a strategic reassessment of its future direction.
She announced that the upcoming ECOWAS Future Summit scheduled for 21 May in Lomé, Togo, will focus on accelerating the implementation of ECOWAS Vision 2050.
The summit is expected to explore how regional integration can be strengthened and adapted to emerging political, economic, and security realities across West Africa.
Both leaders, though speaking separately, converged on a central message: that West Africa is at a critical turning point where democratic legitimacy must be reinforced by effective governance, and peace must be actively constructed through cooperation rather than assumed.
They warned that without stronger institutions, improved governance delivery, and deeper regional collaboration, the region risks further democratic setbacks and prolonged instability.
The session continues as ECOWAS lawmakers deliberate on strategies to strengthen democratic resilience and regional integration amid mounting challenges across West Africa.
ECOWAS Leaders Warn Democracy Must Deliver and Peace Must Be Built as West Africa Faces Rising Instability
Troops Arrest Suspected Terrorist Informant in Borno
By Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Nigerian Army have arrested a suspected informant linked to ISWAP/JAS terrorist groups in Ngamdu, Kaga Local Government Area of Borno State.
Security sources said the suspect was apprehended at about 6:00 p.m. on May 3 by troops of 154 Battalion at Ngamdu market following sustained surveillance.
The sources disclosed that the suspect had been on a security watchlist prior to his arrest.
According to the sources, items recovered from him include a mobile phone, the sum of ₦1,150, and other sundry materials.
They added that the suspect is currently in military custody and undergoing interrogation.
The sources noted that further investigations are ongoing to establish his role and possible links within terrorist networks operating in the area.
Troops Arrest Suspected Terrorist Informant in Borno
Troops Conduct Offensive Operation in Gwoza, Destroy Suspected Terrorist Structures
By Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Nigerian Army have conducted an offensive operation in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, targeting suspected terrorist hideouts and support structures.
Security sources said the operation was carried out at about 9:20 a.m. on May 1 by troops of 153 Task Force Battalion, operating alongside volunteer forces and hybrid troops deployed at Kirawa.
The sources disclosed that the joint team advanced to Gakara high ground and Ndova village during the operation.
According to the sources, no direct contact was made with terrorist elements during the mission.
They added, however, that troops destroyed several suspected terrorist logistics and life-support structures identified within the general area.
The sources noted that the operation is part of ongoing clearance efforts aimed at denying insurgents freedom of movement and operational bases within the Gwoza axis.
Troops Conduct Offensive Operation in Gwoza, Destroy Suspected Terrorist Structures
Nigeria Moves to Transform Career Guidance System as Ministries, UNESCO, GIZ Push New National Policy Framework
ECOWAS Leaders Warn Democracy Must Deliver and Peace Must Be Built as West Africa Faces Rising Instability
Troops Arrest Suspected Terrorist Informant in Borno
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