Africa must act proactively by establishing a Union of Gulf of Guinea States as an urgent strategic response to emerging geopolitical and economic pressures in the region.
The Gulf of Guinea has become a focal point of global interest due to its energy resources, critical maritime routes, and strategic depth.
Increasingly, foreign actors are operating in and around these waters with growing disregard for international maritime laws, often under the guise of security cooperation or commercial necessity.
A unified Gulf of Guinea bloc would enable member states to pool resources and establish a comprehensive regional maritime and security framework, including modern naval capabilities, real-time intelligence sharing, coordinated patrols, and robust enforcement of Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs).
Beyond security, such a union would strengthen intra-regional trade, port development, energy cooperation, and collective bargaining power in global markets.
Once united under a single institutional umbrella, Gulf of Guinea states would be far better positioned to resist external pressure, deter covert neocolonial practices masquerading as legitimate interventions, and pursue sustainable development on their own terms.
Given its economic weight, naval capacity, and regional influence, Nigeria is uniquely positioned to spearhead this initiative, offering leadership that could redefine maritime security and sovereignty in West and Central Africa.
Why Nigeria ranks first amongst the Gulf of Guinea States.
● Energy wealth (oil & gas).
Proven oil reserves: ~37 billion barrels (largest in Africa).
Proven natural gas reserves: ~209 trillion cubic feet (top 10 globally).
Daily production capacity: historically 2+ million barrels/day.
Nigeria accounts for over 50% of Gulf of Guinea hydrocarbon output.
No other Gulf of Guinea state comes close in scale or diversity of hydrocarbons.
● Maritime size & strategic coastline.
Coastline length: ~850 km.
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): ~210,900 km².
Controls the largest share of offshore oil fields in the Gulf of Guinea.
Hosts key export terminals (Bonny, Forcados, Escravos, Brass).
Nigeria’s waters are among the most economically valuable in Africa.
● Shipping & trade dominance.
Largest port traffic in West & Central Africa.
Lagos ports handle a majority of regional container traffic.
Strategic location connecting:
Sahel → Atlantic
Central Africa → global markets.
● Security & geopolitical weight.
Largest navy in the Gulf of Guinea.
Only regional state with:
blue-water naval ambitions.
indigenous offshore patrol and surveillance capacity.
Border nexus between:
Sahel instability
Atlantic energy routes.
Comparative image. (simplified).
Country.
Energy Reserves.
EEZ Size.
Overall Maritime Power.
Nigeria
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Angola
⭐⭐⭐⭐
⭐⭐⭐⭐
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Equatorial Guinea
⭐⭐⭐
⭐⭐
⭐⭐
Ghana
⭐⭐
⭐⭐
⭐⭐
Congo / Gabon
⭐⭐
⭐⭐
⭐⭐
Summary.
If a Union of Gulf of Guinea States is to be effective:
Nigeria is the natural anchor state
Not by dominance, but by capacity.
Its energy assets, maritime reach, and naval scale make it indispensable.
That’s why external powers focus heavily on Nigeria’s waters — and why regional unity led (not imposed) by Nigeria is essential to protect collective sovereignty.
Fraser Consulting Consortium.
Princess G. A. Fraser. MFR
International Consultant.
