The United Nations (UN) has commended Nigeria for being the first country in Africa to successfully secure conviction for piracy, a statement by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), has said.
Spokesperson of the NSA, Zakari Usman, made this known on Thursday in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES.
According to him, the Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Ghada Fathi-Wali, made the remark in New York.
He said Nigeria’s leadership role and commitment towards curbing maritime crimes could be attributed to the successful collaboration between Nigeria and UNODC.
He added that the Global Maritime Crime Programme and the Strategic Vision for Africa launched in 2021 has encouraged the organisation to extend its partnership beyond national governments to regional organisations.
Nigeria’s Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act, 2019 (POMO Act) aims to “prevent and supress piracy, armed robbery and any other unlawful act against a ship, aircraft and any other maritime craft, including fixed and floating platforms.”
It also gives effect to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982 (UNCLOS) and the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation, 1988 (SUA).
As of December, 2021, Nigeria was the only country in Africa to pass the anti-piracy law.
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