This latest diplomatic push stems from a high-level summit held on March 19, during which leaders from the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Japan formally pledged to protect safe maritime passage through this vital oil corridor. In a joint statement issued via the British government, these six nations signalled their readiness to launch coordinated operations designed to secure navigation and stabilize the region’s volatile waters. Mondli Makhanya spoke to Thembisa Fakude – Senior Researcher and Director Afrasid and Tim Cocks, Reuters Southern Africa chief correspondent and author of ‘Lagos: Supernatural City’, a book about the commercial hub of Africa’s biggest oil producer.