Gulf of Guinea

This study examines Nigeria’s maritime security challenges with particular focus on piracy and illegal oil bunkering between 2000 and 2015. Nigeria’s maritime domain, especially in the Gulf of Guinea, has experienced increasing security threats due to criminal activities such as sea piracy, oil theft, armed robbery at sea, and illegal bunkering. These activities have posed serious threats to national security, economic development, and international maritime trade. The study investigates the causes, nature, and consequences of these maritime crimes and evaluates the efforts made by the government and relevant security agencies to address them. The research adopts a historical and descriptive research design, relying mainly on secondary sources of data such as books, journal articles, government reports, and publications from relevant maritime organizations. Institutions such as the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Navy play significant roles in maintaining maritime security and combating piracy and illegal oil bunkering in Nigerian waters. The findings reveal that factors such as weak maritime surveillance, corruption, poverty in coastal communities, inadequate law enforcement, and the high profitability of oil theft have contributed significantly to the persistence of piracy and illegal bunkering. These activities have led to revenue loss for the government, environmental degradation, insecurity in the maritime sector, and reduced investor confidence. The study concludes that addressing maritime security challenges in Nigeria requires stronger maritime governance, improved surveillance technology, enhanced collaboration among security agencies, and sustainable economic development in coastal communities. It recommends increased investment in maritime security infrastructure, stricter enforcement of maritime laws, and regional cooperation to effectively combat piracy and illegal oil bunkering in Nigerian waters.