Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari has signed into law a new bill to combat piracy in its waters and beyond.
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) said the Suppression of Piracy and other Maritime Offences Bill will "ensure safe and secure shipping on Nigerian waters, prosecute infractions, and criminalise piracy."
The new law outlines penalties for maritime crimes, as well as compensation for shipowners and forfeiture of proceeds of piracy to the government.
And it gives Nigerian authorities the power to seize vessels in domestic or international waters if they are used in illegal operations.
The country will also set up a piracy and maritime offences fund that will be used to implement the legislation.
NIMASA head Dakuku Peterside said: "We are determined to continue to deliver on our promise to investors and the international community to ensure an increasingly safer and more secure environment for profitable maritime business".
The Punch daily said NIMASA had drafted the law in 2012, together with the IMO.
It fulfils the international requirement for standalone legislation on piracy.
Nigeria has been an increasingly dangerous place for seafarers in recent years, with many abducted from vessels as gangs seek ransoms.
Peterside added: “This is not just a victory for NIMASA, but also for all the stakeholders in the Nigerian maritime community."
