A STUDY ON THE NATIONAL SECURITY AND MARITIME PIRACY IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The inclusion of the Nigerian maritime environment in the piracy hotlist has attracted the interest of researchers, security stakeholders and policy makers into the national security and maritime piracy in Nigeria. Therefore, this sociological discourse on national security and maritime piracy has been made, identifying the nature, impact and policy actions taken so far to curb the menace. The study, using primary and secondary data from International Maritime Bureau (IMB) to show the severity and pattern of piracy in Nigeria waterways, and the tenets of the three capability of the studies, found out that while corruption is the major cause of maritime piracy and insecurity in Nigeria, election malpractices specifically equips the pirates with arms directly or indirectly. The phenomenon of piracy in modern-day Africa’s maritime sphere brings to the fore a topical issue which is of immense political and economic interest particularly as maritime trade and globalisation reveal a close interface. Presently, Nigeria haemorrhages from all angles, with the menace of terrorism in the North, kidnappings and abductions in the centre, the added threat of piracy on her seaways spells doom for the nation’s maritime interests and consequently, her economic and national security.

CHAPTER ONE

                                        INTRODUCTION

• Background of the study

Maritime piracy has been identified by the international security bodies as one of the major threats, not only to Nigeria national security, but to the international peace (IMB, 2009). Maritime piracy is also closely connected to Maritime Security which is described as “the freedom from or absence of those acts which could negatively impact on the natural integrity and resilience of any navigable waterway or undermine the safety of persons, infrastructure, cargo, vessels and other conveyances legitimately existing in, conducting lawful transactions on, or transiting through territorial and international waterways.” Maritime security is crucial for stability within the maritime environment of a coastal state. Also, it is a precondition for the economic utilization of the sea, because it checks such activities as illegal fishing, pollution, piracy, armed robbery and other criminal activities, all of which constitute a threat to safety on the seas. For a long time, pirates operating in different parts of the globe have held the world shipping community hostage, threatened the economies of many countries, and relegate efforts to protect lives and citizens by many countries fruitless. This resulted to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), raising alarm to all maritime nations to take drastic actions against the menace. It was one call that the world responded to, including Nigeria and the rest of West African states which early this year were classified as dangerous as Somalia where pirates have made sailing unsafe for ship owners and crew on board (Onuoha, 2012). Maritime piracy has recently received renewed attention according to 2010 official report by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB). Jesugbamila (2010) observed that the statistics compiled and reported by the IMB shows a ten percent increase in reported incidents of piracy worldwide. Alessi (2012) further reported a total of 439 piracy attacks worldwide in 2011, more than half of which were attributed to Somali pirates operating in the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean, and off the coast of Oman. Onuoha (2012) observed a geographical shift of maritime pirate activities. According to him, maritime piracy which has been largely concentrated in Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Philippines) as the traditional hotspots of global piracy has shifted concentration to Africa waters with high concentration rates on Somalia and Nigeria‟s waterways; owing to a combination of factors among which Uadiale (2012) pointed out to include: the increased and profound impacts of globalization, which as a consequence, has increased global trade and commerce, the intensification of global trade, the end of the cold war, technological advances, weapons proliferation, as well as the state‟s failure to fulfill their quintessential and traditional role and functions of security provision, much of which also extends to the maritime security domain, frontiers and corridors. Maritime piracy is an age-old threat to maritime security and has always presented a problem for mariners as long as ships have gone to sea (Mbekeani & M Ncube 2011). In the olden days, even Julius Caesar, the then dictator of the Roman Empire was captured on his way across the Aegean Sea and held for ransom by Cilician pirates. More recently, but still in the historical past, the Barbary corsairs operated from the North African region and captured thousands of ships thereby wreaking devastating impact on the regional economy. From the foregoing, it is pertinent to investigate if the nature, extent, and causes of piracy which varies among the security policies formulation and strategies on Nigeria territorial waters are mandated by corruption. Hence, leads this discourse to take a holistic look at piracy in Nigeria. Considering the nature and extent of piracy in Nigeria, the discourse will take a closer look at a link between corruption and piracy in the Nigerian waters, to establish the level of its impact on national security

• STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This study was necessitated by the rising piratical challenges and security concern within the Nigeria Ocean Space. The apparent growing importance of West African piracy is distorted by an overall decrease in universal piracy. Fattah (undated) noted that on the other side Piracy in the Gulf of Aden has broken down since a peak of 237 incidents in 2011, to just 15 attacks in 2014 and only 3 attacks in 2015 also 3 attacks in the first half of 2016, that represent the lowest percent of attacks globally which ensured that the piracy moved actually from east to west of Africa (IMB, 2016). Therefore, there have been greater mitigations of Nigeria piracy, prompting numbers relating to Nigeria piracy to decrease. This has been due to the use of vessel protection detachments, as well as foreign naval forces intervention. However, as the focus has been on Nigeria piracy, there has been an increase in piracy, escalating from armed robberies to violent hijackings, causing alarm to maritime stakeholders (Ofosu-Boateng, 2017; Onuoha, 2012). The persistent reoccurrence of piratical attacks have created a deep seated concern about the level commitment of both the international and regional forces in fighting piracy in the area. Moreover, there is only moderate information regarding the causes, particularly in relation to economic origin. Jesugbamila (2010) added alienation and marginalization, the social problem of poverty, and unemployment, resource disputes among others as contributing to fuel a significant increase in piracy, and a deterioration in Africa‟s maritime security environment. From the foregoing, it is pertinent to investigate if the nature, extent, and causes of piracy which varies among the security policies formulation and strategies on Nigeria territorial waters are mandated by corruption. Hence, leads this discourse to take a holistic look at piracy in the Nigeria. Considering the nature and extent of piracy in Nigeria, the discourse will take a closer look at a link between corruption and piracy in the Nigerian waters, to establish the level of its impact on national security.

• OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The objective of this study is to examine the implication of maritime piracy on national security in Nigeria. The specific objectives are; the specific objectives are;

1. To examine the effect of maritime piracy on National security in Nigeria
2. To ascertain if there is any significant relationship between maritime piracy and national security in Nigeria

• To examine the impact of maritime piracy on foreign direct investment in Nigeria

1. To proffer suggested solution to the identified problem
   • RESEARCH QUESTION

The following research problem were formulated by the researcher to aid the completion of the study;

1. Is there any effect of maritime piracy on National security in Nigeria?
2. Is there any significant relationship between maritime piracy and national security in Nigeria?

• Does maritime piracy have any impact on foreign direct investment in Nigeria?
  • RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

The following research hypotheses were formulated by the researcher to aid the completion of the study;

H₀: There is no significant relationship between maritime piracy and national security in Nigeria

H₁: There is a significant relationship between maritime piracy and national security in Nigeria

H₀: maritime piracy does not have any significant impact on National security in Nigeria

H₂: maritime piracy does not have a significant impact on National security in Nigeria

• SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

It is believed that at the completion of the study, the study will be of great importance the maritime sector as the study seek to explore the nemesis of piracy to national security, the study will also be of great importance to the management of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) as the study will help them in formulating policies and strategies that will aid in combatting piracy in Nigeria. The study will also be of great importance to researchers who intend to embark on a study in a similar topic as the study will serve as a pathfinder to further studies. The study will also be of importance to student, teachers, researchers and the general public as the findings of this study will add to the pool of existing literature on the subject matter and also contribute to knowledge on the subject matter.

• SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The scope of the study covers the national security and maritime piracy in Nigeria. But in the course of the study, there are some factors that limit the scope of the study;

AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study

TIME: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.

FINANCE: The finance available for the research work does not allow for wider coverage as resources are very limited as the researcher has other academic bills to cover.

1.8 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS

Maritime transport

Maritime transport and hydraulic effluvial transport, or more generally waterborne transport, is the transport of people or goods via waterways

Maritime piracy

Maritime piracy the plundering, hijacking, or detention of a ship in international waters has evolved over the centuries but remains a challenge to international law

National security

National security, or national defense, is the security and defense of a sovereign state, including its citizens, economy, and institutions, which is regarded as a duty of government

1.9 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows

Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), statement of problem, objectives of the study, research question, significance or the study, research methodology, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlight the theoretical framework on which the study its based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.  Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study.

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