A Critical Appraisal of The Anti-Piracy Law of Nigeria

Abstract

Nigeria’s June 2019 law on piracy and other maritime offences is an important step in securing the country’s coastline and seas. The Ant-Piracy law on Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act,^[1] 2019 (POMO Act) aims to ‘prevent and suppress piracy, armed robbery and any other unlawful act against a ship, aircraft and any other maritime craft, including fixed and floating platforms.’ It also observed that this law gives effect to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982 (UNCLOS) and the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation, 1988 (SUA). Despite the enactment of this huge law and policies targeted at ameliorating the numerous problems at Nigeria’s coastline and seas, the situation in Nigeria seems degenerating owing to the fact that there are no adequate compliance of the laws as well as the ineffective implementation or enforcement of the law. This paper seeks to critically evaluate the impacts of the Act and also its weaknesses. It also discusses Nigeria’s capacity to implement its new law and detect and prosecute crimes. Analysis includes an evaluation of the steps taken by the governments of the region and the effectiveness of the implemented strategies to counter the threat posed by piracy in the region. In identifying the barriers and challenges to combat piracy, a comprehensive arrangement based effective cooperation is proposed in the paper.

Keywords: PIRACY LAW, NIGERIA

DOI: 10.7176/JLPG/113-06

Publication date:September 30^th 2021

*PhD & LLM (Coventry), BL (Nigeria), LLB (London Met), Lecturer, Department of Public Law, Faculty of Law, Rivers State University. Email: victor.enebeli@yahoo.co.uk, Phone: 09020176657

**LL.M (RSU) in view; BL (Abuja); LL.B (UK); Dip-in-Law (UK). Senior Associate Tuduru Ede, SAN & Co. Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. Email: david.chibuike22@yahoo.com/ikemefula20@yahoo.com. 08065357894, 08052339985

[1] https://lawnigeria.com/2019/12/suppression-of-piracy-and-other-maritime-offences-act-2019/ accessed 04/08/2021