This study examines sea piracy and security challenges of maritime business in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. To achieve the objectives of this study, three research hypotheses were formulated. A cross sectional survey research design was adopted; the population of the study comprise of maritime business operators in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. A Sample of 215 sea business operators in 9 waterfronts cutting across the three senatorial districts of Bayelsa State was selected by simple random sampling.
A Likert Scale questionnaire on “Sea Piracy and Security Challenge” was developed by the researcher and administered to 24 respondents which formed part of data collected. The Routine Activity Theory which is associated with Lawrence Cohen and Marcus Felson was adopted as the theoretical guide of this study. Three null hypotheses were tested using regression analysis (r) at 0.05 level of significance. Results from the findings shows that, the three hypotheses were rejected. The study found amongst others, that sea piracy affects sea faring and fishing business significantly in Bayelsa State. It therefore recommends that concerted efforts aimed at increasing and equipping security agencies responsible for policing Bayelsa State territorial waters should be the major concern of the government and other stakeholders in the maritime sector.
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
Statement of Problem
Objectives of the study
Significance of the study
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
Sea piracy: A conceptual clarification
Sea Piracy and Fishing Business
Security Challenges and Maritime Operation
Theoretical Framework
Methodology of the Study
Results
Discussion of Findings
CONCLUSION
RECOMMENDATIONS
REFERENCES
Research Objectives and Focus
This study investigates the prevalence of sea piracy and its security implications for maritime business operations in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. It seeks to determine how these criminal activities affect fishing and sea-faring economies and evaluates the effectiveness of current security measures in protecting maritime stakeholders.
- The impact of sea piracy on local fishing and maritime business growth.
- Evaluation of security threats within Bayelsa State territorial waters.
- Application of the Routine Activity Theory to understand maritime criminality.
- Assessment of the correlation between security surveillance and business safety.
- Policy recommendations for enhancing maritime security through coordinated efforts.
Excerpt from the Book
Theoretical Framework
The basic perspective for analyzing the substantive issues under study is anchored on the theory of Routine Activity theory (RAT). The Routine Activity theory (RAT) is an offshoot of the socio-structural theory. Lawrence Cohen and Marcus Felson are its proponents. It is however a new paradigm and a Meta -theory in the 1970s crime discourses (Igbo, 2008).
The Routine Activity Theory explains crime as a product of the combined result of three essentials elements: 1. Potential Offenders or persons who are motivated to commit crimes; 2. Suitable targets, that is, the presence of things that are of some economic value and which can be easily transported; 3. Absence of capable guards or persons who can prevent a crime from taking place.
The foregoing propositions RAT crystallize the factors that prompt the occurrence of pirate attacks in Bayelsa waterways and it attendant threat on the waterways, security and economic activities in the area. Principally, the availability of suitable targets (oil installations of multi-national oil companies, trawlers, boat drivers, fishermen, local businesses that patronize the water transport) according to the routine activity theory is a motivator and sustained factor. Too, the inadequacy nay unavailability of competent security networks to safeguard the territorial waters of the study area. Based on this, serial attacks by pirates on maritime business operators could be attributed to weak maritime security. Given this, the routine activity theory concerned itself with explicating the individual motivational factors in crime causation which other traditional sociological theories of crime do not. Its main preoccupation or concern is to emphasize how ordinary or normal lawful, conventional, routine activities of individuals increase the probability of criminal activities (Igbo, 2008).
Summary of Chapters
INTRODUCTION: This section establishes the global and local context of maritime piracy, highlighting the significant economic losses in Nigerian waters and the specific security crisis facing Bayelsa State.
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK: This chapter provides a conceptual overview of piracy, connects it to maritime business and fishing, and introduces the Routine Activity Theory to explain the criminal dynamics in the region.
METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY: This chapter outlines the research design, detailing the use of a cross-sectional survey, sampling methods across various waterfronts, and the statistical instruments used to analyze the collected data.
RESULTS: This section presents the empirical findings through regression analysis, confirming the significant negative impact of piracy on maritime operations and the positive correlation between security surveillance and business safety.
DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS: This section interprets the statistical results, affirming that pirate attacks significantly disrupt fishing and maritime trade while validating the necessity for improved, localized security surveillance.
CONCLUSION: This final chapter synthesizes the research, reaffirming that piracy remains a severe threat to the sustainability of maritime business in Bayelsa State.
RECOMMENDATIONS: This chapter proposes concrete policy interventions, including youth empowerment and the integration of modern technology and better-equipped security forces to secure the waterways.
Keywords
Sea Piracy, Maritime Security, Bayelsa State, Fishing Business, Routine Activity Theory, Waterways, Maritime Business Operations, Criminality, Security Surveillance, Niger Delta, Economic Impact, Maritime Transport, Law Enforcement, Poaching, Safety
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper examines the intersection of sea piracy and the security challenges facing maritime business operations specifically within Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
What are the primary themes discussed in the work?
The central themes include the economic impact of maritime crime, the security vacuum in coastal areas, the victimization of small-scale maritime operators, and the necessity of improved state intervention.
What is the main objective of the study?
The goal is to investigate how piracy affects maritime business, identify the specific security threats in Bayelsa, and provide recommendations to enhance safety for maritime stakeholders.
Which research methodology was utilized?
The researcher employed a cross-sectional survey research design, collecting data via questionnaires from 215 maritime operators across nine different waterfronts in Bayelsa State.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The body covers a literature review on piracy, the theoretical application of the Routine Activity Theory, a detailed methodology, empirical results from regression analysis, and a discussion on the findings.
What are the key descriptive keywords for this paper?
Key terms include Sea Piracy, Maritime Security, Bayelsa State, Fishing Business, Routine Activity Theory, and Economic Impact.
How does the Routine Activity Theory explain the situation in Bayelsa?
The theory posits that piracy occurs due to the presence of motivated offenders, suitable targets such as commercial boats, and an absence of capable guardians or effective security networks.
What does the regression analysis reveal about security surveillance?
The study found a statistically significant positive relationship, suggesting that adequate security surveillance substantially enhances the safety and growth of maritime business operations.
What practical recommendations does the author make?
The author recommends generating employment for youth, recruiting local youth leaders for community policing, and equipping security agencies with modern radar technology and combatant vessels.
- Quote paper
- Dr. Adongoi Toakodi (Author), 2014, Sea piracy and security challenges of maritime business operations in Bayelsa State, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/442119
