Maritime Crimes Threaten Nigeria’s Economy – CP Azare Warns As Naval Warfare College Visits Akwa Ibom

June 22 () — The Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, Baba Mohammed Azare, has warned that the growing sophistication of maritime crimes poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s economy, calling for stronger inter-agency collaboration, enhanced intelligence sharing and the deployment of modern technology to secure the nation’s waterways and critical assets.

Speaking on Monday while receiving the Commandant of the Naval Warfare College Nigeria, Rear Admiral M.A. Muye, and participants of Naval Warfare Course 10 on an operational study visit to the state, Azare said maritime security remains indispensable to sustainable socio-economic development and national prosperity.

The visit formed part of the college’s operational study programme with the theme, “Maritime Security and Socio-Economic Development: Akwa Ibom State in Perspective”, to expose senior military officers to contemporary security challenges within Nigeria’s maritime environment.

The police commissioner described Akwa Ibom as a strategically important coastal state along the Gulf of Guinea, noting that its vast maritime resources support Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, maritime transportation, fisheries, tourism and other economic activities that contribute significantly to national revenue.

He, however, identified sea piracy, armed robbery on waterways, kidnapping, illegal oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism, smuggling, human trafficking, environmental crimes and other transnational organised crimes as major threats undermining the country’s maritime sector.

According to him, no nation can fully maximise the benefits of its maritime resources without a secure operating environment, stressing that effective maritime security attracts investment, protects critical national infrastructure, promotes commerce, creates jobs and improves the livelihoods of coastal communities.

Azare said the Akwa Ibom State Police Command has continued to strengthen intelligence-led policing, waterway patrols, protection of critical infrastructure, community engagement and other crime prevention strategies in collaboration with relevant security agencies.

He stressed that tackling maritime insecurity requires seamless cooperation among the Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), as well as host communities.

The commissioner further advocated improved surveillance systems, joint security operations, enhanced protection of oil and gas installations and continuous capacity building for security personnel to combat emerging maritime threats effectively.

Earlier, the Commandant of the Naval Warfare College, Nigeria, Rear Admiral M.A. Muye, commended the Akwa Ibom State Police Command for its operational achievements in maintaining peace and security, saying the interaction would significantly enrich the academic and operational experience of participants of Naval Warfare Course 10.

The visit also provided a platform for strategic engagements and professional exchange of ideas on practical solutions to emerging maritime security challenges, with both institutions reaffirming their commitment to deepening collaboration to safeguard Nigeria’s maritime domain and support sustainable economic development.