Gulf of Guinea security gains must be sustained, says Mujahid Al-Ibenu

…As Commodore Shetima intensifies maritime operations

Mujahid Al-Ibenu, a maritime security analyst, has stated that recent improvements in maritime security within the Gulf of Guinea must be sustained through continued operational, institutional, and technological measures.

Al-Ibenu made the remarks while assessing maritime security trends in West and Central Africa. He noted that piracy incidents in the region have declined in recent years due to coordinated naval operations, increased regional cooperation, and improved maritime surveillance systems.

He stated that the Gulf of Guinea remains a key international shipping corridor, with significance for global trade, offshore energy activities, and regional economic stability. According to him, the area continues to face multiple maritime security challenges despite recorded reductions in piracy incidents.

Al-Ibenu identified ongoing threats in the region as including illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, oil theft, smuggling, narcotics trafficking, and other forms of transnational maritime crime. He also stated that maritime insecurity in the region is increasingly influenced by technological developments affecting shipping and port operations.

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He said that maritime security frameworks in the region must incorporate both physical enforcement and technological systems. According to him, cyber-related risks affecting maritime infrastructure and logistics systems are emerging concerns for port authorities and shipping operators.

Al-Ibenu referenced ongoing maritime security initiatives in Nigeria, including the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, commonly referred to as the Deep Blue Project. He described the initiative as part of efforts to strengthen maritime surveillance and rapid response capacity through coordinated assets operated by security agencies.

He also referred to the Yaoundé Architecture for Maritime Security, a regional framework established by West and Central African states to coordinate responses to maritime crime. According to him, the framework remains relevant to regional cooperation and information sharing among maritime security agencies.

Al-Ibenu stated that sustained maritime security improvements depend on continued collaboration among regional governments, naval forces, and maritime regulatory agencies.

He linked ongoing operational activity in the Gulf of Guinea to the Nigerian Navy and the Gulf of Guinea Task Force under the command of Commodore Mohammed Sagir Shetima. According to him, operations under the task force have included maritime patrols, surveillance activities, and coordinated responses to maritime security incidents within Nigerian waters and adjoining areas.

He stated that continued operational activity alone is insufficient without long-term institutional planning, capacity development, and integration of intelligence-led maritime security systems.

Al-Ibenu said that maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea should be maintained through sustained enforcement, technological modernization, and regional coordination mechanisms. He added that the reduction in piracy incidents should be consolidated through long-term policy and operational consistency.

He further stated that maritime security challenges in the region are evolving beyond traditional piracy to include cyber risks, illicit trafficking, and environmental and economic crimes affecting coastal states.

According to him, the long-term security outlook of the Gulf of Guinea will depend on the ability of regional actors to maintain current gains through coordinated and sustained efforts.