Leveraging Technology For Maritime Security: A Solution To Piracy Threats In Nigeria

In recent years, Nigeria has faced significant challenges related to maritime security, with piracy becoming a major concern in the Gulf of Guinea, where the country's ports and offshore oil platforms are located. Maritime security is a pressing issue in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea region. The energy sector and international business/trade depend to a large extent on seaborne transport. Nigeria has a large expanse of territorial waters and coastal towns with the Gulf of Guinea having a link to the country. The Gulf of Guinea is vast, covering a diverse territorial area that stretches and draws from Senegal down to Angola covering a coastline of over 6,000km. An important fact to note is that the Gulf of Guinea is a vital geopolitical chokepoint for shipping, maritime transportation of oil extracted in the Niger delta, as well as the transportation of goods to and from various areas in the African continent and beyond (European Union, 2018).¹