Nigeria’s Chief of Naval Staff, Idi Abbas, has called for the establishment of a special court dedicated to prosecuting maritime crimes, arguing that it would fast-track justice and strengthen efforts against crude oil theft and other illegal activities in the country’s waters.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Friday, Abbas said a specialised court would focus solely on maritime-related offences, reducing delays often associated with conventional court proceedings.
According to the Naval Chief, lengthy legal processes currently place a significant burden on the Nigerian Navy, which must maintain vessels and other exhibits seized from suspected offenders until cases are concluded.
“What we are pushing for is that we should have a special court that will try these maritime criminals,” Abbas said.
He noted that a dedicated court would help speed up the dispensation of justice and reduce the financial and operational costs incurred in keeping arrested vessels under naval custody.
Abbas explained that the Navy spends considerable resources securing and maintaining vessels linked to crude oil theft and other maritime offences while awaiting prosecution and judgment.
The naval chief said the proposed court would complement ongoing efforts to improve maritime security across Nigeria’s territorial waters. He attributed recent gains to increased fleet recapitalisation, expanded sea patrols and the deployment of modern surveillance technology.
“What has changed operationally is constant presence at sea, and that’s as a result of the fleet recapitalisation we have undertaken,” he said, adding that more vessels are now available for patrol duties.
Abbas also highlighted the role of technology in monitoring Nigeria’s maritime domain, claiming the Navy now has near-total visibility of activities within its waters.
He pointed to Nigeria’s removal from the global list of piracy-prone countries in 2023 as evidence of progress in maritime security.
Despite the improvements, Abbas acknowledged that isolated incidents of sea robbery still occur. He stressed that the Navy remains committed to sustaining security gains and preventing threats from neighbouring waters from spilling into Nigeria’s maritime space.
The naval chief further emphasised the need for stronger regional cooperation across the Gulf of Guinea, noting that maritime threats often transcend national borders.
The comments were made during an interview with Channels Television and come amid continued efforts by security agencies to combat crude oil theft and other maritime crimes.
