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With the fight the Nigerian military is putting up to ensure that the fabric of the nation remains intact, it becomes germane to give a thought to the vital role the Nigerian Navy plays in safeguarding the nation’s sprawling maritime environment. And, considering the wealth that accrues to the nation from these quarters, it is not difficult to understand that though the Navy is most times as silent as the flowing sea, hers is a job that requires not just more attention from the government and the people, but also more eco-friendly innovations to adapt its operations to the global sustainability trend.
Nigeria’s maritime domain spans from Longitude 002° 49’ East to Longitude 008° 30’ East extending southwards to the statutory 200 nautical miles limits of the Exclusive Economic Zone. Within Nigeria’s expansive maritime domain of about 84,000 sq nm are a variety of resources which range from shrimps and fish to oil and gas. Because of the delicate nature of these assets, it is then the job of the Navy to put on its surgical gloves when embarking on tactical operations.
Also, embedded in Nigeria’s internal waters is a vast network of pipelines mostly located in the complex web of creeks. The naval officers, most of whom were neither born nor raised in the Niger Delta environment, are trained to adapt to the intricate responsibilities of safeguarding, and thwarting economic threats targeted at these national assets.
The ocean also provides means of transportation, tourism and recreation, and the explorations of the resources of the oceans contribute to the economy of the nation. For instance, petroleum products account for over 90 percent of Nigeria’s total export and about 80 percent her budgetary revenue is maritime-based, making the ocean based installations the nation’s prime possessions.
In Nigeria’s maritime domain there are several major oil installations which constitute critical maritime infrastructure that require adequate protection. It is estimated that there are over 5,779 oil wells, 9,717km of pipelines, 112 flow stations, 16 gas plants, and 126 production platforms in the maritime area. The existence of these enormous economic resources, coupled with the high cost of the maritime infrastructure that are left unprotected in the maritime environment underscores the need for adequate security.
Additionally, Nigeria’s maritime area of interest extends beyond her maritime environment. It covers the entire stretch of the Gulf of Guinea, extending from Dakar in Senegal to Luanda in Angola with a coastline of about 2, 874 nm. The safe passage of the ships and other goods is among the nation’s vital maritime interest. Consequently, the countries within this coverage have a shared responsibility for the security of this common maritime heritage. Thus, the NN must develop the capacity to assert its influence over this vast maritime area.
There is therefore no gainsaying the fact that security challenges to our maritime environment are threats that could cause grave damage to the economy of the country. Such threats could be external or internal. The internal or domestic threats include political and communal conflicts, smuggling, piracy and sea robbery, poaching and marine pollution. Others are pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering.
Under the United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea, piracy is an act of armed robbery that takes place in international waters where there is no state jurisdiction. Sea robbery on the other hand is an act committed within the territorial waters. Sea robbery is on the increase with attack on tankers and oil servicing vessels around Bonny and Brass offshore.
Notably, the Nigerian Navy rose to the challenge with Operation Tsare Teku and its contribution to internal security operations in the North East and Operation Safe Haven. It also established a Naval Out Post at Lake Chad.
United States Naval Forces Commander in charge of Europe and Africa, Admiral Michelle Howard in her recent visit to Nigeria said Nigerian economy is likely to grow five times its current size in the same period making Nigeria a regional engine for growth. She however said the growth does not come without challenges as terrorism, criminal networks, illegal bunkering with damages of oil pipeline, posed direct threats to the Nigerian economy.
The immediate past Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, shed light on the level of criminality that has taken hold of Nigeria’s maritime territory, and the NN’s general strategy.
“The maritime environment has these spate of piracy attacks, robbery, last year especially, also had some elements of resource theft, including illegal fishing in our waters, and we saw some elements of human trafficking, arms trafficking as well as drug trafficking, not to mention waste dumping and environmental concerns…. These realities are well within our factors of estimate and they provide the basis for the course of action under implementation and in view. The pivot is in the sustenance of capacity building by refining workable old practices and adapting new, innovative approaches to restoring sustainable order at sea and within the backwaters.”
It is against this background that I state my view that we need more eco-strategies from the NN as it carries out its maritime security operations. MSO are the actions of modern naval forces to combat sea–based terrorism and other illegal activities, such as hijacking, piracy, and slavery, also known as human trafficking. Ships assigned to such operations may also assist seafaring vessels in distress. MSO also involve marine environmental protection, creating a safer and clean environment.
So, as that mission continues, the NN also has a responsibility to serve as a good steward of the environment; and has to be supported to demonstrate that commitment. This can be achieved by investing in programs that minimize, and in some cases eliminate, the effects of its operations on the environment, like in the case of ending oil bunkering and illegal refinery. The NN’s environmental goals and strategies should be supported by every Nigerian.
The NN should ensure environmental requirements are considered throughout all acquisition efforts, including design, construction, operation, maintenance, repair and retirement. They should be supported to operate their ships, submarines, aircraft, and facilities in compliance with all applicable environmental regulations and policies, and ensure that these assets are equipped to do so.
The Nigerian Navy should control their ecological footprint in relation to oceans, marine life, coastal areas, and water quality; and also operate their ships and conduct training while minimizing any impacts to marine animals, or threatened and endangered species.
Another suggestion is for the Nigerian Navy to adopt a globally compliant green attitude by ensuring shipboard environmental compliance with solid waste, oily wastewater, non-oily wastewater, hazardous material regulations through the implementation of environmentally sound practices and/or the installation, maintenance, and use of shipboard equipment. In partnership with the marine research institutions, it should develop and implement appropriate science-based protective measures to protect marine bio resources during Navy operations at sea. It should partner with local communities on volunteer shoreline, neighborhood cleanups and other environmental projects.
I believe that with the incessant cases of oil spill in the Niger Delta, if the Nigerian Navy becomes active in environmental best practice, the atmosphere of impunity among polluting oil companies shall evaporate; not only would the show of force by the Navy deter further environmental pollution, but its direct involvement with hazardous waste sites clean-up-for-future-reuse will immensely inspire a nation-wide climate action.
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