Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to the peace, security, and stability of the Gulf of Guinea, particularly the ongoing reforms in the Gulf of Guinea Commission.

“On behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I reaffirm Nigeria’s strong commitment to the objectives of the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC).

“Nobody can undermine the role of the commission in fostering cooperation, peace, and sustainable development in the Gulf of Guinea,” Mr Shettima said on Tuesday when he received the executive secretary of the commission, Jose Abeso.

Mr Abeso and his team were on a courtesy visit to the president in Abuja.

Mr Shettima particularly noted Nigeria’s commitment to regional cooperation and to the African Union’s 2050 Integrated Maritime Strategy.

“As Africa’s most populous nation and unarguably the largest economy, we have interests to protect, promote, project, and preserve in the Gulf of Guinea.

“Be reassured that some of the issues you have raised, the president will give them the desired attention. We want the Gulf of Guinea to function effectively,” he said.

The vice president commended the management of the GGC, assuring it of Nigeria’s “unalloyed commitment to the ideals and objectives of the commission.”

Earlier, Mr Abeso solicited Nigeria’s support for the commission’s reform programmes aimed at expanding its membership to include all 19 coastal states of the Gulf of Guinea and improving peace and security in the region.

He also spoke about the need for stakeholders in the region to jointly engage insurance companies in reviewing the high premiums paid for the movement of goods in the Gulf of Guinea.

Mr Abeso commended Nigeria’s leading role in the establishment of the Combined Maritime Task Force in the region.

He, therefore, sought Mr Tinubu’s support in rallying other political leaders in the region to operationalise the force.

(NAN)