Abstract
The damaging effect of piracy and other maritime offences in the world has led to the promulgation of international treaties such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation, in a bid to curtain piracy. The Nigerian maritime sector has over the years been burdened with the menace of piracy and other maritime offences. According to the International Chamber of Commerce-International Maritime Bureau (Piracy Reporting Centre), Nigeria suffered the highest number of piracy attacks in 2020. In line with the obligation of state parties to international maritime treaties and in a bid to enhance Nigeria’s maritime security framework, Nigeria enacted the Suppression of Piracy and other Maritime Offences Act 2019. Despite the laudable provisions of the Act, piracy attacks have remained a persistent issue in the Nigerian maritime sector. This paper presents an overview of the Suppression of Piracy and other Maritime Offences Act 2019 and examines key provisions of the Act. The doctrinal research methodology was adopted. The conclusion of this paper is that an increase in capacity for law enforcement, better governance, and increased efforts to resolve land-based issues like corruption will have a positive impact in the fight against piracy and other maritime offences.
Keywords: Appraisal, Piracy, Maritime Act