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UNODC, Denmark Collaborate to Boost War Against Maritime Crimes in Nigeria
UNODC, Denmark Collaborate to Boost War Against Maritime Crimes in Nigeria
By: Michael Mike
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), with funding from the Danish Government has built a Ship-in-a-Box (SIAB) simulator at the Joint Maritime Security Training Centre (JMSTC); to boost the war against maritime crimes in the country.
A statement on Friday by the UNODC said: “Maritime piracy, including kidnapping and robbery at sea, while in decline in the Gulf of Guinea, remains a threat, as groups involved seem to have moved at least for the time being into more lucrative and less risky markets. Oil theft, oil bunkering and related offences on the other hand experience a revival with devastating consequences for people and the environment. Moreover, multiple recent large-scale seizures suggest that trafficking by sea in all its forms persists. Illegal drugs, falsified medicines, small arms and light weapons, illegally harvested wildlife, and forest products as well as persons are being trafficking into, out of and within the region.”
The statement added that: “While reports of spectacular arrests and seizures should be interpreted as a sign of improved intelligence sharing and interception capacities of security and law enforcement authorities across the region, stakeholders shouldn’t rest on their oars because syndicate crime groups are constantly devising innovative ways to maneuvre established systems.”
The statement said: “To significantly enhance the skills and preparedness of maritime law enforcement officers to operate more efficiently and contribute to safer seas and maritime security, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), through the funding from the Danish Government, built a Ship-in-a-Box (SIAB) simulator at the Joint Maritime Security Training Centre (JMSTC); a facility which was commissioned February 28 in Lagos, Nigeria.”
It explained that: “The Ship-in-a-Box (SIAB) simulator provides a critical additional training infrastructure to enhance the capacity of military and civilian maritime law enforcement personnel in the conduct of Visit, Board, Search and Seizure Operations. It will help to improve the quality and frequency of training, while reducing costs as well as safety risks associated with the conduct of exercises at sea.
The statement said in stressing the importance of the facility and the UNODC approach to tackling maritime crime, the Country Representative of UNODC, Oliver Stolpe, at the commissioning said “While the Ship-in-a-Box undoubtedly will further strengthen our collective response to maritime crime, it represents only one element of a holistic approach. At UNODC we are of the firm conviction that an integrated strategy which combines elements of security, rule of law and prevention that will eventually guarantee a peaceful and prosperous maritime domain for the benefit of the countries and the people of the Gulf of Guinea.”
According to the Danish Ambassador to Nigeria , Sune Krogstrup robust and strategic partnerships can undoubtedly boost efforts to revolutionize the capacity of maritime personnel and enable safer seas and maritime ecosystem.
He said: “Confronting these challenges necessitates collective action to boost maritime security and ensure the unhindered flow of trade and the safety of lives at sea, aligning with various national, regional, and international frameworks. Denmark remains steadfast in its commitment through the Danish Maritime Security Programme (DMSP) to enhance the capabilities of national and regional institutions to secure the Gulf of Guinea and facilitate safe maritime passage.”
While thanking UNODC and the Government of Denmark as well as acknowledging our many years of substantial partnership, Rear Admiral P.C. Nwatu who represented the Chief of Naval Staff, added “The Nigerian Navy acknowledges the many years of collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to strengthen institutional and organizational capacities of member states to check criminality at sea. We are happy to lend our support to the improvement of the maritime law enforcement skills of other agencies both in Nigeria and our neighboring countries to enhance bilateral and multilateral joint actions in securing our individual and common maritime spaces. We therefore appreciate UNODC’s recent initiative through the Ship-in -a- Box programme and the Government of Denmark for funding it and pledge our continued support and cooperation.”
UNODC provided normative, analytical and operational assistance to Member States for strengthening the effectiveness, fairness and accountability of their criminal justice institutions to tackle crime, corruption and terrorism. This also aligns with UNODC’s Strategic Vision for Nigeria.
UNODC, Denmark Collaborate to Boost War Against Maritime Crimes in Nigeria
Historic Awolowo House Pulled Down for Space for Growth of ICT, Says Investor
By: Michael Mike
The rationale behind the pulling down of the historic Awolowo House, a multi-story building, in Ikeja, Lagos, that has been a symbol of innovation since 1978 has been explained.
The iconic building, which is managed by Wemabod, a subsidiary of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, owned by the six South West states of Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Ondo and Ekiti, was demolished and is being rebuilt into a modern and magnificent technology haven called Awolowo Technology Mall.
The new Awolowo Technology Mall, is being developed to commemorate and immortalize legendary nationalist, Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s legacy of innovation, quest for knowledge, spirit of discovery, and excellence; qualities that the leading technology companies taking up spaces at the Awolowo Technology Mall are globally famous for.
The new Awolowo Technolgy Mall will more than double the previously available commercial space of Awolowo House from 4,800 sqm to over 9,000 sqm.
On the rationale for the demolition of the former edifice, the managing director of El-Salem Nigeria Limited, Mr Ben Gbade Ojo, whose company is in partnership with Wemabod to develop the Awolowo Technology Mall, told journalists in Abuja at the weekend, that “the Awolowo Technology Mall, now famously called A.T Mall, is a place where top-notch information technology companies will set up shops and offices to exhibit and market the latest information communication technologies and systems, a place where latest ICT products from global technology companies can be found in Nigeria. It is a place where leading ICT experts congregate and set up shops and offices, a place where ICT training is carried out by global ICT geniuses and where ICT puzzles find ready answers, and ICT problems find well-tailored solutions. You will likely find at the A.T Mall, any ICT product or electric product available in the world, and you may not need to travel outside Nigeria for the product. Whatever technology products or services you are in need of, come to A.T Mall, Ikeja, and you will get them”.
He noted that recently, a comprehensive report by data analytics firm, Statisense ranked Lagos as the world’s fastest-growing emerging technology ecosystem in 2025.
The report published on X placed Istanbul in second position, followed by Pune. Belo, Horizonte, Mumbai, Curitiba, Riyadh, Johannesburg, Chennai and Ho Chi Minh City completed the top ten.
Analysts say the ongoing development of the magnificent Awolowo Technology Mall, now sought after by world-class technology firms, will further solidify Lagos’ now globally acknowledged status as a leading technology hub in the world.
Statisense is a leading artificial intelligence data analytics company known for its annual ecosystem intelligence reports across emerging markets.
Historic Awolowo House Pulled Down for Space for Growth of ICT, Says Investor
Police confirm killing of farmer in Benue
By: Zagazola Makama
The Police Command in Benue on Tuesday confirmed the killing of a 55-year-old farmer in Yelwata community, Guma Local Government Area of the state.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident was reported at about 3:44 p.m. by Mr. Zaki Pkan, a resident of Yelwata, who raised alarm after his brother, Mr. Ayua Fedelis Hemen, failed to return from his farm.
“Upon receiving the report, the coordinator of tactical teams in Yelwata mobilised operatives to the area.
“The body of the deceased was discovered in the farm with multiple machete cuts. It was photographed, evacuated and later handed over to the family,” he said.
The sources added that efforts were ongoing to track and apprehend the suspects behind the killing.
Police confirm killing of farmer in Benue
Security forces destroy bandits’ camps in Benue, recover rifle
By: Zagazola Makama
Security forces in Benue have destroyed five camps belonging to suspected armed herders during a clearance operation in the Sankera axis of Ukum Local Government Area.
Zagazola Makama gathered that the operation, which began at about 11 a.m., on Friday was carried out jointly by Ukum Divisional Police personnel, Operation Zenda, visiting units of the Police Mobile Force (PMF), operatives of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) and the Benue Civil Protection Guard.
“During the offensive, five bandits’ camps were destroyed following a fierce gun battle around Dyom and Asom Amadu in Ukum LGA.
“The armed bandits fled with bullet wounds, abandoning one AK-47 rifle with breech number 309416 and five rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition. These were recovered by our men.
“The clearance operation is still ongoing with efforts being intensified to track and apprehend the fleeing bandits,” he said.
The sources said the coordinated operation was part of measures to flush out criminal elements terrorising rural communities in the Sankera axis.
Security forces destroy bandits’ camps in Benue, recover rifle
Historic Awolowo House Pulled Down for Space for Growth of ICT, Says Investor
Police confirm killing of farmer in Benue
Security forces destroy bandits’ camps in Benue, recover rifle
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