The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has said piracy has decreased by 77 per cent on Nigerian waters in the first nine months of 2021.
The Director-General of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh, revealed this in a statement signed by Mr Edward Osagie, Assistant Director, Public Relations at NIMASA.
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Dr Jamoh said the reduction was reflected in the International Maritime Bureau’s (IMB) third-quarter 2021 report.
The statement reads in part: “Nigeria reported four incidents in the first nine months of 2021 in comparison to 17 in 2020 and 41 in 2018. This represents 77 per cent decrease in incidents between 2021 and 2020, and 95 per cent reduction from 2018.
“The IMB also reported 39 per cent reduction in piracy and armed robbery incidents in the Gulf of Guinea.”
He added that the latest figures came following the launch of the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure (INSWPI) also called “Deep Blue Project” on June 10, by President Muhammadu Buhari.
He further said the NMASA had put in place measures to sustain the current momentum of security in the country’s waters.