Piracy on Nigerian waters falls by 77% says NIMASA
The Nigerian Maritime Administration ad safety Agency has said the country has witnessed its lowest of piracy since 1994, with piracy dropping by 77%.
NIMASA disclosed this in a statement signed by its Assistant Director, Public Relations, Osagie Edward, saying the decline was reported by the International Maritime Bureau.
It said, “The trend of reduction in piracy and armed robbery in Nigerian waters has continued, with the International Maritime Bureau reporting in its third quarter 2021 account, a 77% decrease in the first nine months of the year compared to the same period last year.
“Nigeria reported four incidents in the first nine months of 2021, in comparison to 17 in 2020 and 41 in 2018. This represents 77% decrease in incidents between 2021 and 2020 and 95% reduction from 2018”.
It said the IMB also reported a 39% reduction in piracy and armed robbery incidents in the Gulf of Guinea.
According to NIMASA, the reduction is coming off the back of the launch of the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, also called the Deep Blue Project.
