Nigeria’s maritime safety, Gulf of Guinea piracy and the Deep Blue Project

Assessment 3: Analytical Brief on Nigerian Maritime Safety and Security (2,500–3,000 words)

Module and Assessment Overview

• Module title: Maritime Safety, Security and Governance in Nigeria

• Assessment type: Individual analytical brief (country- and region-focused)

• Weighting: 25–35% of module grade (see programme handbook)

• Length: 2,500–3,000 words (excluding references and appendices)

• Submission format: Policy/analytical brief (DOCX or PDF) via the VLE/learning portal

• Level: Final-year undergraduate / postgraduate taught (Level 6/7 equivalent)

Assessment Context

Nigeria sits at the centre of the Gulf of Guinea maritime security architecture, facing threats that range from piracy and armed robbery to oil theft, illegal fishing and illicit trafficking. Over the past decade, Nigeria and regional partners have launched major initiatives and legal reforms, including the Yaoundé Code of Conduct, the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences (SPOMO) Act, and the NIMASA–Nigerian Navy “Deep Blue Project”, alongside EU and international support. Reported piracy incidents and crew kidnappings in the Gulf of Guinea have declined significantly since 2021, yet concerns remain about incident under-reporting, displacement of criminal activity and the sustainability of current security gains. At the same time, NIMASA-approved institutions and private providers have expanded maritime safety and security training in line with STCW and ISPS requirements.securitycouncilreport+9

This assessment asks you to analyse how Nigeria’s maritime safety and security architecture is evolving, and to evaluate the effectiveness, gaps and future needs of current approaches.

Assessment Task

Task description

Prepare a 2,500–3,000 word analytical brief titled:

“Nigeria’s Maritime Safety and Security Architecture: Progress, Challenges and Future Directions”

Your brief should:

1. Map the main institutions, laws, assets and partnerships that shape maritime safety and security in Nigerian waters and the wider Gulf of Guinea.

2. Analyse recent trends in piracy and maritime crime, and the role of key initiatives such as the Deep Blue Project and SPOMO Act.

3. Evaluate the contribution of education, training and capacity-building to maritime safety and security outcomes.

4. Present clear options and recommendations for consolidating and sustaining security gains while strengthening safety and governance.

Core requirements

Your brief must address, at minimum, the following components:

1. Threat landscape and trends

   • Summarise recent patterns in piracy, armed robbery, oil theft and related maritime crimes affecting Nigerian waters and the Gulf of Guinea, drawing on recent assessments.iss.europa+3

   • Highlight key quantitative trends (for example number of incidents, crew kidnappings, geographic shifts) and qualitative patterns (for example modus operandi, targeting of specific vessel types).centerformaritimestrategy+2

2. Institutional and legal framework

   • Map the roles of core Nigerian actors such as NIMASA, the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Ports Authority, marine police and joint task forces, as well as regional and international partners (for example Yaoundé Architecture, AU PSC, UN, EU programmes).peaceau+3

   • Explain the significance of the SPOMO Act and related regulations for prosecuting piracy and maritime offences, and summarise key developments in its implementation.iss.europa+1

3. Deep Blue Project and operational capabilities

   • Describe the objectives, components and asset mix of the Deep Blue Project (land, sea and air platforms; C4i centre; Maritime Security Unit) and how these enhance domain awareness and response.maritimafrica+2

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   • Assess available evidence on its impact on incident numbers and perceived security in Nigerian waters and ports, while noting limitations or concerns (for example sustainability, maintenance, inter-agency coordination).nimasa+2

4. Safety, training and human capacity

   • Analyse how NIMASA-approved training providers, academies and private institutes contribute to maritime safety and security through STCW, ISPS and specialised courses (for example bridge resource management, ship security officer, VTS, SAR).coastalmaritimeacademy+1

   • Identify strengths and gaps in safety and security training, including human element and human factors dimensions (for example situational awareness, communication, crisis response).

5. Regional cooperation and external support

   • Briefly review key regional and international cooperation mechanisms and programmes that affect Nigerian maritime security (for example Yaoundé Code of Conduct structures, EU capacity-building projects, multinational naval presence).amaniafrica-et+3

   • Discuss Nigeria’s leadership role and coordination challenges in this environment.

6. Analysis of progress, gaps and risks

   • Evaluate the degree to which current arrangements have reduced piracy and enhanced maritime safety, considering factors such as deterrence, prosecution, intelligence, community relations and economic drivers of crime.securitycouncilreport+3

   • Identify key gaps and risks, including potential displacement of crime, under-reporting, resource constraints, corruption, technology gaps or uneven protection of small-scale fishers and coastal communities.

7. Options and recommendations

   • Propose 6–10 concise, prioritised recommendations to strengthen maritime safety and security, grouped under themes such as:

     • Legal and prosecutorial strengthening

     • Operational cooperation and asset management

     • Training and human capacity

     • Community engagement and socio-economic measures

     • Data, reporting and transparency

   • For each theme, indicate main responsible actors and indicative time horizons (short/medium/long term).

Indicative structure

• Title page (module, student ID, word count, brief title).

• Executive summary (150–200 words).

• 1. Introduction and purpose.

• 2. Threat landscape and trends.

• 3. Institutions, laws and regional cooperation.

• 4. Deep Blue Project and operational capabilities.

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• 5. Maritime safety training and human capacity.

• 6. Overall assessment: progress, gaps and risks.

• 7. Options and recommendations.

• References (Harvard style).

• Appendices (for example incident trend table, actor map) as appropriate.

Formatting and Submission Requirements

• Word count: 2,500–3,000 words (excluding references and appendices). State the word count on the title page.

• Font and spacing: 11–12 pt font, 1.5 spacing, standard margins.

• Style: Concise, analytical brief targeted at policymakers and senior practitioners; use subheadings and bullet points where helpful.

• Referencing: Harvard style, using recent and authoritative sources.expertisefrance+7

• Sources: At least 10 substantive sources, including:

  • UN/AU/EU and regional documents on Gulf of Guinea security,

  • Nigerian government and agency communications (NIMASA, Navy),

  • Analytical reports on piracy and maritime crime,

  • Materials on maritime safety and training in Nigeria.trainingnigeriapro+8

Learning Outcomes Assessed

• LO1: Describe the current maritime safety and security threats affecting Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea.

• LO2: Explain the roles of key Nigerian, regional and international actors and legal frameworks.

• LO3: Analyse the impact of operational initiatives, particularly the Deep Blue Project and SPOMO Act, on maritime security outcomes.

• LO4: Evaluate the contribution of education, training and capacity-building to maritime safety and security.

• LO5: Develop realistic, evidence-based recommendations to strengthen Nigeria’s maritime safety and security architecture.

Marking Criteria and Rubric