The Nigerian Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, led a high-ranking delegation to the 5th Sea Power for Africa Symposium (SPAS) held in Cape Town, South Africa, from October 15 to 17, 2024. Accompanied by Rear Admiral Noel Musa Madugu, the Naval Director of Administration, and Commodore Chikaji Aminu Isah, the Defence Attaché to South Africa, Vice Admiral Ogalla joined naval leaders from across the continent to address pressing issues surrounding Africa’s maritime security.
Themed “Good Order at Sea in the African Maritime Domain,” the symposium focused on strategies for safeguarding Africa’s vast and resource-rich maritime domain. Discussions centered on emerging non-traditional threats such as piracy, illegal fishing, and maritime crime, which undermine regional stability and economic growth.
In his keynote address, Vice Admiral Ogalla underscored Africa’s maritime potential, noting that the continent’s maritime resources could generate over USD 405 billion by 2030, including USD 100 million from coastal tourism, and create 57 million jobs. He stressed the importance of sustainable management of these resources as key drivers of economic growth and food security.
Vice Admiral Ogalla highlighted the African Integrated Maritime Strategy (AIMS) as a critical framework for developing Africa’s ocean economy in a secured maritime environment. He noted that the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) is expected to increase intra-African freight by 28% and demand for maritime transport by 62%. He also pointed out that maritime activities contribute more than 20% of national revenues for some African nations, emphasizing the need to secure these waters from a wide range of non-traditional threats.
Nigeria’s role in ensuring maritime security was spotlighted, with Vice Admiral Ogalla citing the country’s success in implementing a Total Spectrum Maritime Strategy. This approach, which includes surveillance, rapid response, and law enforcement, helped remove Nigeria from the list of piracy-prone countries in March 2022, a status it has maintained since. He urged African navies and coast guards to strengthen security cooperation to protect maritime borders, ensuring the region’s economic prosperity.
Vice Admiral Ogalla also emphasized the environmental aspects of maritime security, calling for decisive action to prevent oil spills, reduce waste dumping, and ensure sustainable fisheries management. He noted that the protection of Africa’s maritime domain is essential for long-term food security and regional stability.
The 5th Sea Power for Africa Symposium provided a platform for African states to collaborate on securing their maritime domain, with Nigeria playing a significant role in fostering a collective maritime security agenda.