The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC has applauded the Nigeria for the first-ever successful prosecution and conviction of piracy in Africa.
Head of Strategic Communication, Office of the National Security Adviser, Zakari Usman in a statement said the Executive Director of UN agency Ghada Wali gave the commendation in New York. It added that Wali also applauded Nigeria for her leadership role and commitment towards curbing maritime crimes
The statement added that Agency’s Boss attributed the success to effective collaboration between Nigeria and UNODC through the Global Maritime Crime Programme and the Strategic Vision for Africa launched in 2021.
He said one of the gaps identified by the Federal Government of Nigeria in the fight against maritime crimes was the weak legal and institutional framework for prosecuting offenders.
Wali noted that the Federal Government had also prioritised the provision of maritime intelligence facilities such as the inauguration of a state-of-the-art Falcon Eye Maritime Intelligence Facility at the Naval Headquarters in Abuja in 2021.
It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari, on June 24, 2019, assented to the Suppression of Piracy and other Maritime Offences, POMO Bill.
