By Correspondent.
Nigeria’s former Minister of External Affairs, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, has urged world leaders to step up efforts to secure the Gulf of Guinea, warning that the region’s vast economic potential will remain untapped if insecurity persists.
Speaking in New York during a high-level roundtable on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly at the weekend, Gambari noted that the Gulf of Guinea, endowed with oil, gas, and other critical minerals, continues to face threats from piracy, oil theft, and illegal fishing—factors that undermine investment and destabilise local communities.
“We are not helpless. When states coordinate naval patrols and share intelligence, tangible results follow,” he said, citing recent successes in curbing piracy through enhanced regional cooperation.
Gambari commended Nigeria’s initiative to host a Combined Maritime Task Force, endorsed earlier this year by the African Union, describing it as a bold demonstration of political will.
Outlining a five-point agenda for progress, the seasoned diplomat emphasised the need to:
strengthen security frameworks,
integrate security with development,
involve the private sector,
leverage technology, and
establish a Gulf of Guinea Business Council to drive sustained collaboration.
He stressed that transparent management of the region’s natural resources is central to lasting peace and growth. “Economic opportunity, when paired with inclusive governance, is itself a powerful deterrent to insecurity,” he noted.
Linking his proposals to broader continental strategies such as ECOWAS Vision 2050 and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, Gambari cautioned that the region’s immense potential will remain unrealised without collective resolve.
“The future must be shaped by a shared commitment—to protect its waters, invest in its people, and transform its natural wealth into a driver of inclusive growth,” he declared.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
