Independent Experts Group Meeting on the Draft Supplementary Act Relating to the Cooperation on the Suppression of Illicit Maritime Activities in ECOWAS

From 16 to 19 May 2023, in Lagos, Nigeria, a meeting of independent experts was held to consider the draft Supplementary Act Relating to the Suppression of Illicit Maritime Activities in ECOWAS.

This project was carried out in the framework of the implementation of the ECOWAS Integrated Maritime Strategy (EMIS) in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) through the Support to West Africa Integrated Maritime Security (SWAIMS) project.

The objective of this draft Supplementary Act is to promote the cooperation of ECOWAS Member States through the strengthening of the operational legal framework to combat illicit activities committed at sea.

The meeting was attended by representatives of ECOWAS Directorate of Peacekeeping and Regional Security, ECOWAS Directorate of Legal Affairs, Regional Maritime Security Center for West Africa (CRESMAO), Maritime Multinational Coordination Centers (MMCC) Zones E and G, UNODC, and by Consultants and Independent Experts.

During the opening ceremony, Mr. Francis Omiunu, National Programme Officer of UNODC, welcomed the experts appointed to reflect on the draft Supplementary Act Relating to the Suppression of Illicit Maritime Activities in ECOWAS.

He noted that the meeting was another step in the continuing partnership between ECOWAS and UNODC in finding innovative solutions on cooperative mechanisms to address illicit maritime activities within the region.
He mentioned that UNODC, as an implementing partner in the SWAIMS project, remains committed to supporting the entire criminal justice system, from sea to land, in order to ensure that ECOWAS Member States are able to address the threats of maritime crime, including drug, human and arms trafficking, and to secure the waters of coastal States.

Colonel Abdourahmane Dieng, Head of the Regional Security Division of the ECOWAS Commission, in his opening remarks recalled the adoption of the Supplementary Act on the Conditions For The Transfer Of Persons Suspected Of Having Committed Acts Of Piracy And The Property and evidence associated with them by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government at its 61st Ordinary Session in July 2022, and the significant drop in piracy In light of the current situation, It is now deemed necessary to put in place additional measures that would provide a range of options and innovative solutions to address all forms of maritime security problems in the maritime domain through enhanced cooperation.

He indicated that the thinking in this regard found expression in the recent UN Security Council Resolution 2634 (2022) which explicitly encourages the Gulf of Guinea states to structure operations to combat illicit maritime activities and to develop their capacity to protect their maritime domain, as well as Article 13 (3) of the Yaoundé Code of Conduct on the repression of piracy, armed robbery against ships and unlawful maritime activities in West and Central Africa, signed in Yaoundé on 25 June 2013 (“Yaoundé Code of Conduct”).

Colonel Dieng concluded his remarks by requesting the dedicated support of the experts in the consideration of the draft Supplementary Act, towards an adoption by ECOWAS.

The meeting ended with the adoption of the report by the participants and the following recommendations including those to present the draft Supplementary Act as revised to the ECOWAS Commission as a working draft to ensure its ownership by all its competent services to sensitize management on the objectives that the draft Supplementary Act aims, to sensitize the management on the objectives that the draft Supplementary Act seeks to achieve in securing the ECOWAS maritime domain.

NCC intensifies sensitisation on telecoms fraud

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has sensitised motor spare parts traders in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, on how to avoid telecom and e-fraud on mobile telecommunications network.

Its Head of Consumers Affairs, Mr Ayanbanji Ojo, said this at the NCC consumers sensitisation programme held at Agodi-Gate motors spare parts market on Thursday in Ibadan.

Ojo said that the commission had received several complaints on financial fraud through telecoms platforms.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the sensitisation programme featured awareness campaign, lectures, questions and answers, among others.

Ojo said that the commission decided to bring the sensitisation with the theme; “Shine Your Eyes, No Fall Mugu”, to the market because of the vulnerability of the most traders to events and happenings in the telecommunications space.

He urged consumers to always keep their Subscribers Identification Module(SIM) cards safe, beware of free gifts internet links, use strong passwords and guide against Identity thefts online.

Ojo also advised that and they should always be careful of investment schemes perpetuated on telecoms platforms.

“The market people are our telecom consumers, without them we can not exist as a regulator. The market people deserve to know what is going on in the telecoms space.

“There have been so many complaints on loss of money. So, we need to educate our consumers all the time because we are now in the sustainability of telecoms industry.

“If we do not sustain the telecom consumers, the fraudsters will take advantage of them.

“As telecom regulator, we advise people to go to their service providers to resolve complaints. But if they are disatisfied, they can call NCC toll free number ‘622’ to resolve the issue, “he said.

Also speaking, the President, Ibadan Motor Parts Dealers Association, Mr Moruf Olanrewaju, commended the efforts of the NCC to safe the consumers from the rising trends of telecoms fraud.

Olanrewaju noted telecoms fraudsters adopt new methods from time to time.

He urged the commission to increase its routine sensitisation programmes to the market, motor parks and other public gatherings to expose the consumers to new scams before they become victims.(NAN)

ECOWAS’s Boss-TOURAY briefs diplomats on activities

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) held a briefing on its recent activities to the African Diplomatic Corps on May 9, 2023. The briefing was led by H.E. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, and H.E. Abbas Ibrahima Salaheddine, High Commissioner of the Republic of Cameroon and Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps.

During the briefing, President Touray presented the ECOWAS 4×4 strategy. The strategy is composed of four objectives: enhanced regional peace and security, deeper regional integration, good governance, and inclusive and sustainable development. Furthermore, two enablers have been presented: capable institutions and equitable partnerships.

President Touray explained that the strategy is an important part of ECOWAS’s efforts to ensure regional peace and security, deepen regional integration, and promote good governance and inclusive and sustainable development in West Africa. He highlighted the progress that has been made in the implementation of the strategy and the challenges that remain.

The African Diplomatic Corps commended the new ECOWAS Management for the initiative, which marks the first of its kind in the history of the ECOWAS-African Diplomat relationship.

It is the hope of ECOWAS that the 4×4 strategy will bring about a more secure, prosperous, and integrated West Africa. The Commission is committed to working with the African Diplomatic Corps to ensure that these objectives are met and the region is a safe and prosperous place for all.

Finally, the Commission aims to institutionalize the briefing with a view to strengthen the relationship with the African Diplomatic Corps and to bridge the gap in the flow of communication between the two parties.