Nigeria’s Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s steadfast commitment to peace, security, and stability in the Gulf of Guinea region.
Receiving the Executive Secretary of the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC), Mr. Jose Mba Abeso, and his delegation at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Shettima highlighted Nigeria’s active support for the Commission’s reform agenda and broader regional cooperation, all aligned with the African Union’s 2050 Integrated Maritime Strategy.
“On behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I reaffirm Nigeria’s strong commitment to the objectives of the GGC. Nobody can undermine the Commission’s role in fostering cooperation, peace, and sustainable development in the Gulf of Guinea,” Shettima declared.
He further emphasized Nigeria’s strategic interests, stressing that as Africa’s most populous nation and largest economy, the country has a crucial role in safeguarding its maritime zones.
“As Africa’s most populous nation and largest economy, we have interests to protect, promote, project, and preserve in the Gulf of Guinea. Be assured that some of the issues you have raised will receive the President’s full attention. We want the Gulf of Guinea to function effectively.”
Shettima also commended the GGC’s leadership and assured that the administration’s support is unwavering in advancing the Commission’s ideals and objectives.
Earlier in the meeting, Mr. Abeso outlined key reform initiatives, including expanding the GGC’s membership to encompass all 19 coastal states in the region, improving maritime security, and tackling high insurance premiums that hinder shipping and trade. Nigeria’s leadership in establishing and operating the Combined Maritime Taskforce featured prominently in the discussion, with Abeso requesting President Tinubu to galvanize other regional actors to fully operationalize the force for enhanced maritime safety.
