A Legal and Comparative Analysis of the Frameworks for Combating Maritime Crimes in Somalia, Australia and the United Kingdom: Lessons for Nigeria

Abstract

In order to provide Nigeria with useful insights, this paper compares the legal systems for fighting maritime crimes in Somalia, Australia, and the United Kingdom. The study looks at how various countries convert international commitments into domestic legislation and institutional practice. It is based on the international legal regime under the United Nations Convention on the legislation of the Sea , including Articles 100–107 on piracy reduction. Australia shows the efficacy of precise legislative codification and strong enforcement powers, whereas Somalia highlights the significance of specialized maritime-crime institutions and international assistance in tackling serious piracy concerns. In contrast, the United Kingdom emphasizes an integrated strategy that combines international collaboration, preventive marine security legislation, and criminal law. According to the report, coordinated enforcement, specialized institutions, preventive measures, and clear legislation all work together to provide effective marine security. In order to effectively combat marine crimes in the Gulf of Guinea, it observes that while Nigeria's SPOMO Act 2019 offers a solid framework, better execution, institutional coordination, and preventive maritime-security tactics are needed. The study finds, from a doctrinal synthesis of these jurisdictions, that effective maritime security depends on the coherence between international legal norms and domestic legal implementation, particularly through clear legislative drafting, defined jurisdictional competence, specialised enforcement institutions, and integrated preventive and punitive legal mechanisms. It concludes that while Nigeria’s SPOMO Act 2019 provides a significant doctrinal foundation for the criminalisation of piracy and maritime offences, its effectiveness is contingent upon strengthened implementation, clearer institutional coordination, and the incorporation of more robust preventive maritime-security doctrines to address evolving threats in the Gulf of Guinea.

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