Japan has reiterated its commitment to contributing to the security of Nigeria and other West African countries through maritime safety.

Shinozawa Takayuki, Japan’s chargé d’affaires ad interim to Nigeria, gave the assurance at the opening of a three-week counter-piracy training in Abuja.

In June, Mr Takayuki said Japan had signed an agreement with Nigeria to grant high-speed boats to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

The high-speed boats, according to him, will significantly contribute to maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea in the near future.

“In August, Japan hosted the eighth Tokyo International Conference on Africa (TICAD8). In the ‘Tunis Declaration’ that resulted from the conference, Japan emphasised the importance of promoting regional and international efforts related to maritime security,” the Japanese envoy explained. “This includes the fight against maritime crime such as piracy and maintaining a rule-based maritime order in accordance with the principles of international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).”

He added that “this project, which begins the anti-piracy course today, is one of Japan’s contributions to capacity building.” 

“We hope that the knowledge acquired by the 30 trainees will improve safety in the Gulf of Guinea,” Mr Takayuki stated.

The Japanese official said ensuring the security of the Gulf of Guinea was also important from the perspective of economic security, adding that trade between Nigeria and Japan had reached $1 billion annually.

Mr Takayuki added that the total amount stood at approximately 115 billion yen to date.

“Therefore, it is necessary to ensure maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea, a key trade route in West Africa, in order to facilitate bilateral trade,” he explained.

(NAN)