2.2.2 Maritime Security
Maritime security will is perceived as efforts to combine preventive and responsive measures to protect the maritime domain against threats and intentional unlawful acts (Source: Vice Admirals Fernando del Pozo, Anthony Dymock, Lutz Feldt, Patrick Hebrard and Ferdinando Sanfelice di Monteforte, Maritime Surveillance in Support of CSDP: The Wise Pen Team Final Report to EDA Steering Board, April 26, 2010). Scholars have not agreed on a universal definition of the concept; even the international establishments that govern it. Insecurity in the GoG is a function of the region’s vast natural resource endowment, the vulnerabilities inherent in its geographical location, and environmental and demographical factors. These are very attractive to outside bodies and serves as pull factors for insecurity. Other sources of insecurity in the GoG are the internal and international governance processes and the distinct pressure regional and external geopolitics exerts on the security architecture of the region (Shafa, 2011). The concept has also been seen as the absences of maritime security (Jendayi Frazer, Assistant Secretary for African Affairs
Cotonou, Benin November 15, 2006) which affects economic, political, and security affairs. Maritime insecurity requires the adoption of a holistic approach that includes improving governance and the economies in the Gulf of Guinea region as a foundation for stability. Through maritime security, African countries can