Description

Maritime piracy is an old concept, the history of which can be traced far way back since the time when the human being started using sea as a means of transport. Piracy attacks in the Niger Delta region have taken a worrying trend. The pirates in the Niger delta involve hijacking, kidnapping, sea armed robbery, vandalism of vessels and oil installations. This disruption is impacting negatively on shipping in this sea lane. There are consequences to be suffered due to these pirate attacks on shipping in this region. This study investigates into improving maritime security in Nigerian waters highlighting strategies for combating piracy and ensuring safe shipping. A Correlation Analysis is conducted in respect of the countries and years based on the research question. A Chi Square test is conducted to test the hypotheses.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

COVER PAGE

TITLE PAGE

APPROVAL PAGE

DEDICATION

ACKNOWELDGEMENT

ABSTRACT

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
• PROBLEM STATEMENT
• AIM/OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
• RESEARCH QUESTION
• RESEARCH HYPOTHESES
• SCOPE OF THE STUDY
• SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
• DEFINITION OF TERMS
• RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
• PROJECT ORGANISATION

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

• CONCEPTUAL REVIEW OF THE STUDY
• DEFINITION OF MARITIME PIRACY
• GEOGRAPHICAL COVERAGE OF PIRACY IN WEST AFRICA
• CAUSESOFPIRACYINNIGERIA’SMARITIMEDOMAIN
• THEORETICAL REVIEW
• NATURE OF PIRACY ACTIVITIES IN THE NIGERIA
• THE CONTROL MEASURES SET TO COMBAT ACTS OF PIRACY IN THE NIGER DELTA
• THE CONTROL MEASURES SET TO COMBAT ACTS OF PIRACY IN THE NIGER DELTA
• OTHER MEASURES TAKEN
• MARITIME SECURITY FORCES IN NIGERIA
• IMPORTANCE OF MARITIME SECURITY
• THREATS TO MARITIME SECURITY
• CONTEMPORARY MARITIME SECURITY

CHAPTER THREE

METHODOLOGY

• RESEARCH DESIGN
• POPULATION OF THE STUDY
• SOURCES OF DATA
• COLLECTION OF DATA
• SAMPLING TECHNIQUE
• DATA ANALYSIS

CHAPTER FOUR

RESULT ANALYSIS

• RESULTS
• DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS

CHAPTER FIVE

• CONCLUSION
• REFERENCES

CHAPTER ONE

1.0                                                            INTRODUCTION

1.1                                               BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Piracy is commonly visualized through images of 18^th century privateers searching for ships projected to have large payouts. The 18^th century privateers were armed with guns, swords, knives, and cannons. Today’s world still has privateers, albeit armed with more advanced weapons, such as automatic weapons and grenades, as well as more advanced ships. Because of the advanced tactics used by modern privateers, there have been headline cases of piracy, especially since the early 2000s. However, piracy was deemed to be a limited problem prior to 2009 and considered to be a lower concern internationally. Common piracy attacks were attributed to small armed groups in territorial seas, such as in the Niger Delta, in touted efforts to protect resources (Bradford, 2015 & Germond, 2019). However, there were also problems related to the inefficient and ineffective government, which increased opportunities for piracy. As a result, piracy became more prominent in different locations, as well as increasingly advanced, in part due to technological advancements and in part due to increased boldness by pirates (Treves, 2019).

Piracy attacks in the Niger Delta have become increasingly pervasive in recent years. According to the International Maritime Bureau (2015), Nigeria has been the most affected country due to piracy attacks and the most affected area is the Niger Delta region. As a result, piracy has a negative impact on maritime transportation and maritime security, particularly in relation to the development of oil production.

The surge in economic activities on the water ways brought with it increased security challenges for protection along the water ways, coastal line and for maritime activities. All forms and shades of attacks at sea have manifested themselves in Nigeria – hijacking, kidnapping, sea armed robbery, vandalism of vessels and oil installations etc., and these have had colossal socio-economic consequences to the nation.

The fishing industry in Nigeria alone for instance, has recorded over 15 deaths and loss of vessels, equipment, fish/fishery products valued over N3 billion to these attacks between 2009 and 2012. And between February 2012 and April 2023, the fishing industry has recorded about 80 attacks on some of its vessels with a number of casualties. The industry which operated over 250 registered trawlers in year 2023/2024 is now left with fewer than 150 trawlers and with sharp drop in employment and income.

Precautionary measures taken by owners and operators of vessels to protect their vessels, crew and cargo, such as taking longer routes to avoid pirates-infested waters have led to high cost of freight, increased insurance premium and delayed cargo deliveries- all of these costs are passed on to the end-user in a society where poverty is already at a debilitating level. It follows from the above that Ships and those who sail in them face many potential dangers, both from natural perils of the sea and from the results of human conduct, both of which demand adequate precautionary responses.

1.2                                                       PROBLEM STATEMENT

Piracy has been in existence for as long as ships started sailing the waters. Similarly efforts at combating the menace have evolved from customary to International laws. Nigeria reputed as the most populous black nation in the world with a coastal line of about 853 kilometers has had its share of the menace of piracy. Before Independence and shortly afterwards, the Nigerian economy was mostly agro-allied dependent, noted mostly for its groundnut pyramids, cocoa, palm oil, cassava etc; the rate of unemployment was also low. However, from the early 1970s, Nigeria became a big player in oil and gas. Today, Nigeria is a major producer, exporter and importer of crude oil and petroleum products. This shift from Agro-allied-dependent economy to import-export-dependent economy has created an expansive maritime industry; as water transportation became inevitable to export crude oil and liquefied natural gas and to import raw materials and finished goods as well as transport passengers and products through the water ways. The surge in economic activities on the water ways brought with it increased security challenges for protection along the water ways, coastal line and for maritime activities. This study was carried out to order to address the piracy situation, citing security tips used in improving security in Nigeria waters.

1.3                                           AIM AND OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

Due to the increasing rates of piracy in the Nigeria waters, there are increased concerns relating to the impact of these attacks (and attempted). The aim of this research study is to analyse the means of improving maritime security in Nigerian waters: strategies for combating piracy and ensuring safe shipping: using Niger Delta as a case study. The objectives are:

1. To study the nature of piracy and blue economy in the Nigeria’s maritime domain
2. What are the effects of piracy on blue economy in Nigeria’s maritime domain?

• To highlight measures that can be used to fight piracy in Niger Delta

1.4                                                       RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The research  questions to be addressed include:

1. What is the nature of piracy and blue economy in the Nigeria’s maritime domain?
2. What are the effects of piracy on blue economy in Nigeria’s maritime domain?

1.5                                                      RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

The research and hypotheses to be addressed include

H₀: Piracy has a significant impact on the Nigeria Economy.

H₁: Piracy has no significant impact on the Nigeria Economy.

1.6                                                         SCOPE OF THE STUDY

In this study, the impact of ship piracy was discussed. The effort of Nigerian Government to combat and deter piracy in the Niger Delta is also highlighted. Stratified sampling technique was adopted for the study

1.7                                                      SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This research work will serve as a means of addressing piracy situation of Niger Delta making the student involved and readers of this work to fully understand the meaning and how piracy takes place in Nigerian waters.

This study will serve as a means of discussing attacks that goes on presently in the sea. This study will also be designed to be of immense benefit to all the user of the Nigerian waters precisely Niger Delta region.

Finally, this study will serve as a means of highlighting measures that can be used to fight piracy in Niger Delta.

1.8                                                       DEFINITION OF TERMS

PIRACY: Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence by ship or boat-borne attackers upon another ship or a coastal area, typically with the goal of stealing cargo and other valuable goods.

MARITIME: This is the transport of people or goods via waterways.

SHIP: Is a large boat for transporting people or goods by sea.

IMPACT: This is a marked effect or influence.

1.9                                              RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

In the course of carrying this study, numerous sources were used which most of them are by visiting libraries, consulting journal and news papers and online research which Google was the major source that was used.

1.10                                   PROJECT ORGANISATION

The work is organized as follows: chapter one discuss the introductory part of the work,   chapter two presents the literature review of the study,  chapter three describes the methods applied, chapter four discusses the results of the work, chapter five summarizes the research outcomes and the recommendations.

CHAPTER FOUR

Findings and Discussion

Demographic Analysis of Respondents and Response Rate Table 1: Questionnaire Distribution Rate of Return

 

Respondents	Quantity	Number Returned	Number Unreturned	Returned %	Unreturned %	Total %
NN	60	44	16	73	27	100
NIMASA	60	56	4	93	7	100
NPA	60	43	17	72	28	100
Rivers State	10	7	3	70	30	100
Bayelsa State	10	8	2	80	20	100
Total Respondents	200	158	42	79.0	21.0	100

Source: Authors’ Field Survey, 2024

 

Table 1 is on questionnaire distribution rate of return, showing the numbers and percentages of distribution and return with an overall return rate of 79.00% of respondents. The retrieved questionnaire provided the bases for the formation of opinions and drawing of inferences.

 

Table 2: Respondents Demographic data

 

S/N	Bio-Data	Responses	Frequency	Percentage
1	Sex	Male	142	89.87
2	Age	18-30 years	18	11.39
3.	Religion	Christianity	108	68.35
4.	Marital Status	Single	14	8.86
5.	Educational Qualification	Primary education	6	3.80

Authors’ Field Survey, 2024

 

The demographic data of the respondents provides a comprehensive overview of their characteristics. On gender distribution: the respondents are predominantly male, with 142 men comprising 89.87% of the total participants. Female respondents are significantly fewer, numbering only 16, which represents 10.13% of the sample. On age distribution: the age distribution shows a diverse range of ages among the respondents. The largest group, 70 individuals or 44.20%, falls within the 31-45 years age bracket. This is followed by 50 respondents (31.65%) aged between 46-60 years. The younger age group of 18-30 years accounts for 18 respondents, making up 11.39%, while those aged 61 years and above total 20 respondents, representing 12.66%.

On religious affiliation: in terms of religious affiliation, the majority of respondents, 108 individuals or 68.35%, identify as Christians. Muslims make up the next largest group with 43 respondents, constituting 27.22%. Traditional religious adherents are a small minority with 7 respondents (4.43%). There are no respondents identifying with other religions. On marital status: marital status data reveals that a significant majority of the respondents, 131 individuals (82.92%), are married. Single respondents account for 14 individuals, representing 8.86% of the sample. Those who are separated number 10, making up 6.33%, while divorced respondents are the fewest with 3 individuals, accounting for 1.89%. On educational qualification among the respondents, it shows that there is high level of academic achievement. The majority, 118 respondents or 74.69%, have attained tertiary education. This is followed by 23 respondents (14.55%) who hold a Master’s or PhD. Those with secondary education number 11, representing 6.96%, and the fewest, 6 respondents (3.80%), have only primary education. Overall, the data illustrates a predominantlymale and married respondent pool, with a significant proportion in the 31-45 age range. The majority are Christians and have attained tertiary- level education.

What is the nature of piracy and blue economy in the Nigeria’s maritime domain? Table 2: Respondents’ Views on the Actions or Features that Characterise Piracy

 

Response	Frequency	Percentage
Acts of robbery at sea	31	19.62
Criminal violence against ships at sea	93	58.86
Boat-borne attacks at sea	3	1.90
Stealing of sea-borne cargo or valuables	9	5.70
Kidnapping of seafarers	15	9.49
Killing of seafarers	7	4.43
Total	158	100

Source: Authors’ Field Survey, 2024.

 

Table 4.2 presents respondents’ views on the identified actions or features that characterise piracy. It shows that 31 respondents (19.62%) indicated acts of robbery at sea, then, 93 (58.86%) or majority of the respondents indicated criminal violence against ships at sea, while 3 (1.90%) indicated boat-borne attacks at sea. Also, 9 (5.70%) indicated stealing of sea-borne cargo or valuables, while 15 (9.49%) indicated kidnapping of seafarers and 7 (4.43%) were of the opinions that killing of seafarers is a feature of piracy. The opinions of the respondents were further buttressed by Capt Taiwo Akinkunmi in an interview when he noted that piracy as a crime in itself and by nature, has varied manifestations which are both causes and effects of other crimes. He averred that, while piracy is attributable to so many socio-economic drivers, its manifestations are in many unquantifiable forms, including traumatic fear in victims and populace that live or undertake blue economic activities in littoral areas.

It can be deduced that the actions or features that characterise piracy include acts of robbery at sea, criminal violence against ships at sea and boat-borne attacks at sea. Others are stealing of sea-borne cargo or valuables, kidnapping of seafarers and killing of seafarers.

Table 3: Respondents’Views on Actions or Features that Define Blue Economy(SA= Strongly Agree, A= Agree, D= Disagree, SD= Strongly Disagree, Freq= Frequency)

 

Response	SA Freq	%	A Freq	%	D Freq	%	SD Freq	%	Total Freq	%
Ocean based economy	0	0	158	100	0	0	0	0	158	100
Sustainable exploitation of the ocean	0	0	156	98.73	2	1.27	0	0	158	100
Commercial activities in the maritime domain	7	4.43	151	95.57	0	0	0	0	158	100
Exploitation of ocean resources for economic growth, whilst preserv- ing the health of ocean ecosystem	5	3.16	153	96.84	0	0	0	0	158	100
Sea-borne socio- economic activities	2	1.27	156	98.73	0	0	0	0	158	100

Source: Authors’ Field Survey, 2024.

Table 4.3 presents respondents’ views on actions or features that define blue economy. These include ocean based economy, sustainable exploitation of the ocean, commercial activities in the maritime domain, exploitation of ocean resources for economic growth, whilst preserving the health of ocean ecosystem and sea-borne socio-economic activities. It reveals that 158 respondents (100%) agreed on ocean based economy to mean blue economy, while 156 (98.73%) agreed on sustainable exploitation. Also, from the cluster table above, majority of the respondents comprising 95.57%, 96.84%, 97.47% also agreed respectively on the various actions or features that define blue economy. The views of Adedeji (2023) further buttressed these findings as he clarified blue economy thus:

The “blue economy”, or the “ocean economy”, is a term used to describe the economic activities associated with the oceans and seas. The World Bank defines it as the “sustainable use of ocean resources to benefit economies, livelihoods and ocean ecosystem health”. It covers but not limited to: maritime shipping, fishing and aquaculture, coastal tourism, renewable energy, water desalination, undersea cabling, seabed extractive industries and deep sea mining, marine genetic resources, and biotechnology.

From the views of the respondents above, it can be therefore inferred that actions or features that define blue economy include ocean based economy, sustainable exploitation of the ocean, commercial activities in the maritime domain, exploitation of ocean resources for economic growth, whilst preserving the health of ocean ecosystem and sea-borne socio- economic activities. These also include maritime shipping, fishing and aquaculture, coastal tourism, renewable energy, water desalination, undersea cabling, seabed extractive industries and deep sea mining, marine genetic resources, and biotechnology.

 

What are the effects of piracy on blue economy in Nigeria’s maritime domain? Table 4.4: Respondents’ views on utilisation of the ocean for enhanced blue economy in Nigeria

 

Response	Excellent		Good		Average		Poor		Total
	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%
Fishing and fishery industry	0	0	0	0	3	1.9	155	98.1	158	100
Shipping industry	0	0	31	19.62	119	75.32	8	5.06	158	100
Cabotage	0	0	0	0	156	98.73	2	1.27	158	100
Maritime transportation	0	0	0	0	155	98.1	3	1.9	158	100
Maritime tourism	0	0	4	2.53	2	1.27	152	96.2	158	100
Oil and mineral resources exploitation	0	0	0	0	158	100	0	0	158	100

Source: Authors’ Field Survey, 2024.

Table 4.4 presents respondents’views on the utilisation of the ocean for enhanced blue economy in Nigeria. It shows that majority of respondents comprising 155 (98.10%) and 152 (96.20%) respectively indicated poor on fishing and fishery industry and maritime tourism respectively. Also, another 158 (100%), 156 (98.73%), 155 (98.10%) and 119 (75.32%) of the

respondents rated the utilisation of oil and mineral resources exploitation sabotage, maritime transportation and shipping industry as average. Thus, it can be inferred that the utilisation of the ocean in the areas of fishing and fishery industry, shipping industry, sabotage, maritime transportation and maritime tourism as well as oil and mineral resources exploitation has not been optimal to enable them sufficiently enhance blue economy in Nigeria’s maritime domain.

 

DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS

To assess the nature of piracy and blue economy in the Nigeria’s maritime domain, the first objective was achieved by establishing that some actions or features that characterise piracy include acts of robbery at sea, criminal violence against ships at sea and boat-borne attacks at sea. Others are stealing of sea-borne cargo or valuables, kidnapping of seafarers and killing of seafarers. Also, some actions or features that define blue economy include ocean based economy, sustainable exploitation of the ocean, commercial activities in the maritime domain, exploitation of ocean resources for economic growth, whilst preserving the health of ocean ecosystem and sea-borne socio-economic activities. These also include maritime shipping, fishing and aquaculture, coastal tourism, renewable energy, water desalination, deep sea mining, marine genetic resources, and biotechnology.

The findings aligned with those in the study by Onuoha (2016) titled, “Violence at Sea: The Ramifications of Maritime Piracy in Nigeria and Somali’s Waters for Human Security inAfrica. These also agreed with Moneke (2014) who discussed maritime piracy in Nigeria, but in relations to national security implications as well as similar elaboration in line with Udensi et al (2014). In this regard, Udensi et al noted in their own study that Nigeria’s coastline is a rich source of marine life which provides the country’s aquatic food needs as well as a source of living for many Nigerians and foreign fishermen. However, a threat such as piracy undermines maritime security, national security and economic prosperity from the sea sources in Nigeria. To determine the effects of piracy on blue economy in Nigeria’s maritime domain, it was also revealed that the utilisation of the ocean in the areas of fishing and fishery industry, shipping industry, cabotage, maritime transportation and maritime tourism as well as oil and mineral resources exploitation has not been optimal to enable them sufficiently enhance blue economy in Nigeria’s maritime domain. Also, the disruption of maritime socio-economic activities, huge revenue losses, oil spillage and sea pollution as well as maritime ecosystem degradation are some of the impacts of piracy on blue economy in Nigeria’s maritime domain. Ultimately it was found that piracy gravely undermines blue economy in Nigeria’s maritime domain. These findings were further accentuated in previous studies by Abubakar (2017) in his study titled, “Gulf of Guinea Resources, Economy and Development: Yesterday, Today and tomorrow.” The study reveals that pollution and piracy in the GoG region are two major problems on the rise in the region, which gravely disrupt livelihoods, degrade environments and destroy the

economy of the GoG of which Nigeria is a vital part.

Conclusion

The rising trends in piracy attacks particularly off the coasts of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria continue to disrupt socio-economic activities with attendant negative impacts on blue economy in the country. The menace of piracy has denied the FGN of the maximisation of needed revenue for necessary socio-economic development including good housing developments, hospitals, schools, social amenities and other infrastructures, while causing several costs and losses to the nation. For example, most ships and frigates are not willing to come to Nigeria waters due to piratical activities in the maritime domain causing reduced rate of commercial activities within the Nigerian waters. There have also been loss of livelihood, loss of lives, kidnapping in addition to loss of huge revenues as problems caused by piracy that bedevilled the Nigerian waters which undermine blue economy in the country. Therefore, this study found that there is the need for improvements in certain areas that can boost the capability of security and intelligence agencies in combating piracy for enhanced blue economy in Nigeria’s maritimedomain. These include improvements in information gathering, intelligence sharing and analysis, as well as technological base with requisite application and utilisation, and society value systems. The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) should strengthen both internal and external security measures to curtail the piracy in Nigeria and enhance blue economy in all littoral states of the federation. The FGN should adopt a Whole of Society Approach (WOSA) to maritime security in Nigeria especially in the coastal states towards boosting blue economy in Nigeria’s maritime domain. This can be implemented whereby the border agencies such as Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) intensify efforts in deploying advanced technology in border management to curb arms smuggling which aids piracy in Nigeria with effect from fourth quarter, 2024.