Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River
State on Wednesday said global economy lost over $950m to piracy in the
Gulf of Guinea region in 2012.
Imoke, who spoke at the end of the First
Gulf of Guinea Regional Maritime Awareness Capability conference held
in Calabar, also said the economic implication of the insecurity in the
region was a realisation of the gravity of the situation.
The governor’s comment came just as
naval chiefs from 10 countries in the region unanimously agreed in a
communiqué issued at the end of the conference to, among others,
facilitate the establishment of an effective legal regime for maritime
enforcement within and among member-states in the Gulf of Guinea.
According to Imoke, who cited a
reference from a study published by Industry Alliance, it is also
estimated that total insurance cost for the insecurity in the region was
put at between $423m to N437m in 2012.
He said, “It is estimated that piracy in
the Gulf of Guinea cost the world economy between $740m and $950m last
year and that figure is expected to increase in 2013. The economic
implication of this insecurity presents a stark realisation of the
gravity of the situation.”
Imoke, who was represented by his
deputy, Mr. Efiok Cobham, traced the insecurity in the region to the
proliferation of low-intensity resource-induced attacks, mostly led by
criminal gangs, warlords and other non-state actors.
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