Nigeria investigating Gulf of Guinea as major route for arms trafficking – Ribadu

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, said on Tuesday the Federal Government is investigating the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) as a major route for arms trafficking into Nigeria.

He stated this at a two-day seminar on Climate Change and the Changing Dynamics of Arms Proliferation and Insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea: Nigeria in Perspective in Abuja.

The National Centre organised the seminar for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), Office of the NSA in Collaboration with the Global Network for Human Development.

Ribadu, who was represented at the forum by the Director of External Affairs, ONSA, Ibrahim Babani, said the Gulf of Guinea had abundant natural resources and underground mineral deposits of about 24 billion barrels of crude oil reserves and contributing roughly five million barrels daily to the global crude chain.

He said the region comprises 16 countries including, Nigeria, spread along its roughly 6,000 kilometres of unbroken coastline.

READ ALSO: Buhari calls for control of illegal weapons trafficking at Lake Chad

The NSA said: “It is the maritime gateway between Africa and the rest of the world.

“However, the lucrative nature of the GoG in terms of natural resources, movement of ships, and related economic activities attracts strange bedfellows and men of the underworld with ulterior motives pursuing nefarious activities in the GoG.

“Organised crime syndicates are involved in various devastating crimes, notably; drug trafficking, human trafficking, oil theft, kidnaping & hostage-taking of ship crews, piracy, and smuggling of contraband goods.

“In this category lies the smuggling of Small Arms and Light Weapons by international crime syndicates.

“Though there have been reports on the proliferation of SALW through the Maritime Sector, the government is interested in further interrogation of the GoG as a major route for arms trafficking.”

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