Nigeria’s former Minister of External Affairs, Professor Ibrahim Gambari,has called on world leaders to intensify efforts to secure the Gulf of Guinea, warning that the region’s economic future is at risk if insecurity persists.
Speaking in New York during a high-level roundtable at the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly, Gambari said the Gulf of Guinea, blessed with oil, gas, and other critical minerals, remains troubled by piracy, oil theft, and illegal fishing activities that discourage investment and destabilise local communities.
“We are not helpless. When states coordinate naval patrols and share intelligence, tangible results follow,” he noted.
Gambari pointed to the recent decline in piracy in some areas through stronger regional cooperation.
Teh former Minister applauded Nigeria’s initiative to host a Combined Maritime Task Force, endorsed by the African Union earlier this year, describing it as a bold demonstration of political will.
Outlining a five-point agenda for progress, the diplomat emphasised the need to strengthen security frameworks, merge security with development, involve the private sector, embrace technology, and establish a Gulf of Guinea Business Council to sustain collaboration.
For Gambari, transparent management of the region’s natural wealth is central to peace and growth.
“Economic opportunity, when paired with inclusive governance, is itself a powerful deterrent to insecurity,” he stressed.
He further linked his proposal to wider continental aspirations such as ECOWAS Vision 2050 and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, cautioning that the Gulf of Guinea’s vast potential will remain untapped without collective resolve.
“The future must be shaped by a shared commitment : to protect its waters, invest in its people, and transform its natural wealth into a driver of inclusive growth,” Gambari said. (vitalnewsngr.com)
