The United Nations’ (UN) commendation of Nigeria’s maritime security initiative is a reflection of the seriousness the President Muhammadu Buhari administration attaches to national security issues.
According to the Buhari Media Organisation (BMO), in a statement signed by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke, it also shows that the international community is aware of the government’s readiness to tackle security challenges.
“The UN commendation did not come as a surprise given what the Buhari administration has been doing to make one of the most dangerous portions of the international waters, the Gulf of Guinea, safer than it used to be.
“It specifically noted that Nigeria’s Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act, 2019 (POMO Act) had been useful in preventing and suppressing piracy and other unlawful acts by giving effect to a 1982 UN convention.
“We make bold to say that this is the first time in decades that the country has been specifically singled out for taking practical steps to tackle piracy.
“The latest international accolades are coming few weeks after the International Maritime Bureau said in its latest report that piracy and armed robbery attacks in Nigerian waters fell by 77 percent in the first nine months of 2021.
“All of these are as a result of the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, also called the Deep Blue Project which went into full operation in June 2021
“We also want to place it on record that as of December 2021, Nigeria was the only country in Africa to pass the anti-piracy law”, it said.
BMO added that the Buhari administration is also committed to extending the success story of security in the Nigerian waters to other parts of the country.
“Never in the nation’s history have the armed forces been so equipped than in the last six years with the acquisition of modern warfare equipment and platforms.
“Today our military is rated as high as 35th out of 140 in the global military capacity index as a result of the commitment of the Buhari administration to boosting their operational readiness against threat to national security.
“So it is against this backdrop that troops battling insurgency have in recent times eliminated key leaders of Boko Haram and ISWAP, and no fewer than 950 terrorists in the North-East between May 20, 2021, and January 6, 2022, alone, according to information from the Defence Headquarters.
“In addition to these, 24,059 terrorists and their families comprising 5,326 adult males, 7,550 adult females and 11,183 children have so far surrendered to the troops in the region.
“Also, terrorists operating in North West Nigeria are currently feeling the heat and being handled decisively by air and ground troops.
“All these show that the military under President Buhari’s watch is not relenting in its efforts to stem the tide of insecurity in the country”.
BMO urged Nigerians to see President Buhari’s reaffirmation that he would leave the country better than he met it as a commitment that he won’t waver from.