By Alex Akao

The Flag Officer Commanding, Nigerian Navy (FOC-NN), Western Naval Command, Lagos, Rear Admiral Michael Gregory Oamen, has declared that the country has not witnessed a single piracy attack in its waters for the past three years.

The current relative peace, particularly at the Golf of Guinea (GoG), according to him, should warrant the removal of Nigeria-bound merchant ships from the payment of War Risks Insurance Premiums often slammed on Nigeria.

Speaking during a courtesy visit by executives of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) and members of the planning committee of the upcoming MARAN Annual Maritime Lecture (MAMAL), the FOC described the continued classification of Nigeria as a high-risk maritime zone as “unjust” and “unsubstantiated.”

He attributed the country’s improved maritime safety to robust naval presence, surveillance systems such as the Falcon Eye, and strategic partnerships with other Naval administrations within the region.

The FOC also criticised the lack of strong representation for Nigeria at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), noting that if the Navy were representing the country, the issue would have been addressed more assertively.

“If it were the Navy at the IMO, we would have taken this issue head-on and shut it down,” he added.

He called on MARAN to escalate the matter by writing to the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and engaging other key agencies such as the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.

Earlier in his address, MARAN President, Mr Godfrey Bivbiere, said the theme of this year’s lecture is, “Addressing the Burden of War Risk Insurance on Nigerian Maritime Trade.”

He said the goal is to bring together industry stakeholders to critically examine the continued imposition of war risk charges on vessels calling at Nigerian ports by the international liners, even though Nigerian waters have been cleared of hitherto worrisome seaborne attacks.

“We are not at war. Nigerian waters have remained safe for over three years, yet shipping companies and insurers continue to impose high premiums that affect all aspects of the economy,” he said.

The MARAN president noted that the association intends to use the lecture as a platform to demand action from the international community, particularly the IMO and major insurance firms, to remove Nigeria from the war risk classification.

“There is absolutely no reason why Nigeria should still be on any war risk list. For the past three to four years, there has been no piracy incident in our waters. This continued classification is unjustifiable,” he said.

“We plan to write to the IMO and directly engage insurance companies involved in this to find out why Nigeria is still being charged. The costs are being passed down to importers and, ultimately, to everyday Nigerians,” Bivbere said.

He also disclosed that MARAN has concluded plans to publish a maritime industry compendium featuring key agencies, including the Navy, NIMASA, and the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy. The publication is expected to be launched in September.

Responding to the association’s requests, the FOC pledged the Navy’s support for the upcoming lecture and confirmed that the command will be presenting a paper at the event.

“Rest assured, the Navy will participate fully. We will also use the opportunity to share the efforts and investments made to secure our maritime environment,” he said.

He commended MARAN for its role in public enlightenment and described the media as critical partners in national security. He also welcomed the idea of allowing maritime journalists to observe naval operations during sea exercises, particularly within the Gulf of Guinea.

The FOC concluded by affirming that the Navy’s partnership with MARAN has been officially restored, and promised to continue supporting the association’s initiatives aimed at promoting the Nigerian maritime sector.

The MARAN delegation expressed appreciation to the Navy for its support and reaffirmed its commitment to using the MAMAL platform to highlight issues affecting the industry and push for meaningful reforms.