A Theoretical Explanation of Power and Regime in Maritime Resource Security in the Gulf of Guinea

Abstract

This paper explores the place of theories in analysing threats to maritime resource security in the Gulf of Guinea. Three theories are discussed to explain how to curb the challenges of maritime resource security in the maritime borders of Nigeria, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Sao Tome and Principe and Central African Republic. The overall objective of the paper is to assess the appropriateness of these theories in analising the extent of threats in the Exclusive Economic Zone of these contiguous countries. The paper adopts content analysis as its methodology. The analysis of the theories shows that that the use of realist theory will best explain the activities of external powers in the oil rich maritime domain. This study recommends that the Nigerian government along with other oil producing countries of the Gulf of Guinea have to move beyond ordinary joint naval exercises to upgrade their naval capabilities by building ships and conducting jointly sponsored research on and security projects on how to secure the region from the control of external powers whose interest are solely for the oil and gas expected to power their industries.