1.1 Introduction
Sea Piracy without a doubt is one of the most challenging factors that have bedeviled sea transportation along water ways especially in the Niger Delta region. Piracy which is considered anti social activities has over the year truncated not only the peaceful coexistence of the region but also have slow the pace of prosperity within the region .The terror of this plaque has been some of the major factor that have ignited most social violence in the region. Piracy which like every other social challenges, have taken various form and shape in its operations both kidnapping, robbing and molesting of local boat passengers to hijacking of ships and oil vessel at high seas. These activities are mostly being carried out by middle aged youth both from economically neglected region and politically marginalized area in the Niger delta.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Oceans and seas have been one of the platform through which goods and other materials have been transported to and from in the world. Thus contributing to the transportation of 80% of goods that sustains the world economy and support the livelihood of the people in the Niger Delta region .Therefore, order and security at sea, is considered as indirect wealth generator and enabler and one of the core pillars for oceans sustainable wealth generation. Unfortunately, order and security at sea have been threatened by piracy activities carried out by criminals for selfish reasons for centuries. Niger delta maritime piracy and armed robbery against ships and local boat have continually truncated the economic activities within this region making it impossible for economic activities to thrive for centuries now. In fact, maritime piracy and armed robbery against ships and other boats along water ways can be viewed as a epidemic that has affected the maritime domain right from the inception of seaborne trade in the history of mankind especially within this region.
Hassan & Hassan (2016) stated that Piracy constitute a major threats to maritime security. As noted by Murphy (2010), piracy is a greasy concept which can rarely be understood without some form of caveat or exemption that changes its meaning. However, it cannot be seen as a political crime, but has often been attributed to politics and state weakness. Piracy is as old as the hill which has assumed several forms and has been carried out for different reasons. The constant attacks by this criminals along the Niger delta water ways such as in Bonny, Nembe, Oron, Degema, Okrika Delta state etc call for effective and urgent response by the law enforcement to combat this plaque that have eaten into the fabric of the region.
The success of law enforcement will be contingent on sound and comprehensive knowledge of the international law requirements concerning piracy and armed robbery at sea, knowledge of the operational environment, awareness of the actors and understanding of the nature of piracy in Nigeria as asserted by (Ali, 2015).
No fewer than 80% of world’s trade carried out globally travels by sea. This represents around 93,000 merchant vessels, 1.25 million seafarers, and almost six billion tons of cargo yearly (Bowden, 2010). These figures show an increase in seaborne trade in recent times. Currently, the International Communities have witnessed one of the world’s oldest crimes against sea trade-sea piracy. Generally, African waters harbor important seaways of growing maritime concerns, namely the Coast of the Horn of Africa (HoA) and the Gulf of Aden (East Coast of Africa), and the Gulf of Guinea (West Coast of Africa). These waterways and availability of ports have becomes mine field for sea pirates. From 2007 to date, maritime operators have witnessed intense attacks.
The attacks have been largely concentrated in waters off the coast of Nigeria and Somalia. In view of this, Nincic (2009) avers that maritime insecurity in Africa and in Nigeria waters in particular, has grown at a disturbing rate and threatens the global flow of goods and services across the world’s shipping lines. To Potgieter (2009), this portrays a pervasive maritime insecurity and a threat to economic growth in Africa.
Modern piracy in the Gulf of Guinea is a Nigeria- centric problem. contrasting the Somali piracy, which happens frequently in the high seas, a lot of the piracy in the Gulf of Guinea occurs in Nigerian territorial waters (Ashiru, 2016).
Therefore, in Bayelsa State where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Sea Piracy and Security Challenge of Maritime Operation.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that sea Piracy is a serious problem in Bayelsa State and the gravity of the crime is so intense that it has affected socioeconomic activities in the area. Government on many occasions has developed policy issues to tackle the crime, but yet very little or no positive result is achieved. Residents of the state, market women and commercial ferry operators who do business on the high sea and territorial waters have spoken openly and condemned the crime, yet the perpetrators are still carrying-out the heinous crime unabated.
The police and other law enforcement officers particularly the navy have on several occasion warned the perpetrators of sea piracy to stay away from the waterways, yet each time such warning is given, it appears that the sea pirates intensify their effort to rob on high seas. This is problem and it has affected the household economy of many who live on proceeds derived from commercial activities on high seas. It has also affected the economy of the state at large that also benefits from taxing the operators of businesses on high seas.
People who before normally travel by water no more does so because of fear of attack by sea pirates. Expatriates who had companies in the area are also folding up because of attack and kidnapping by hoodlums who operate on waterways. Many security operatives have lost their lives in the bid to control the crime. These and many others constitute the problem caused by sea piracy in Bayelsa State. Findings of previous studies (Badejo, 2000; Igbokwe, 2001; Onuoha & Hassan, 2009; and Ezem 2012) revealed that study on sea piracy tend to focus mainly on attacks on “big” commercial boats and the oil industry; as a result, “small” trawlers and fishermen, speedboat operators and traders are ignored whereas they are the first- victims of pirate’s onslaughte. Although studies exist on sea-piracy and national security (Ochai, 2013; Oyetunji, 2012; Onuoha and Hassan, 2009), available literature reveals that no research exists in this area of study linking insecurity and criminality to business growth in the maritime sector of Bayelsa State.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to investigate the Sea Piracy and Security Challenge of Maritime Operation in Bayelsa State. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To investigate whether sea piracy poses security threat to Maritime business operation in Bayelsa State Territorial Waters
- To examine whether sea piracy affects fishing business in Bayelsa State Territorial Waters
- To assess whether sea piracy affects sea faring in Bayelsa State Territorial Waters
- To make recommendations based on findings that could reduce waterways criminality so that security and maritime business operation could be enhanced in Bayelsa State in particular and the Nation at large.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- Does sea piracy affects fishing business in Bayelsa State Territorial Waters?
- Does sea piracy affects sea faring in Bayelsa State Territorial Waters?
- Does sea piracy poses security threat to Maritime business operation in Bayelsa State Territorial Waters?
- What is the relationship between Sea piracy and fishing business in Bayelsa State?
- What is the relationship between Sea piracy and Security surveillance in Bayelsa territorial waters?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: There is no significant relationship between Sea piracy and Maritime business operation in Bayelsa state.
- H1: There is a significant relationship between Sea piracy and Maritime business operation in Bayelsa state.
Hypothesis Two
- H0: There is no significant relationship between Sea piracy and fishing business in Bayelsa State
- H1: There is a significant relationship between Sea piracy and fishing business in Bayelsa State
Hypothesis Three
- H0: Poaching does not significantly affect sea faring operation in Bayelsa State
- H1: Poaching significantly affect sea faring operation in Bayelsa State
Hypothesis Four
- H0: There is no significant relationship between Sea piracy and Security surveillance in Bayelsa territorial waters.
- H1: There is a significant relationship between Sea piracy and Security surveillance in Bayelsa territorial waters.
1.7 Significance of Study
This study is relevant because it aims at improving maritime industry’s business operation and harness Nigeria’s economic growth through adequate security framework. The inclusion of Nigeria as hub of sea piracy calls for attention to unravel the root causes of Maritime piracy since it constitutes a security challenge to the nation’s maritime business operation.
This study is one of such deliberate attempt to identify and strategically address various factors that sustain the surge in Bayelsa State waterways which constitute a national security challenge. This study have proposed a strategic mechanism which could enhance a better synergy among security operatives, as well as address the issues of security interference by none security operatives (government officials and others).
This study has also added to the build-up on literatures that explains and focuses on sea piracy and security challenges of maritime business operation in Bayelsa State. Finally, this study has complemented locality/geographical specific studies on maritime piracy (especially in Bayelsa State waterways), which can collaboratively address the issues of insecurity in their waterways.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Sea Piracy and Security Challenge of Maritime Operation in Bayelsa State.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
