THE POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF PIRACY ON THE ART-CRAFT INDUSTRY: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF NIGERIA AND INDONESIA

Abstract

Nigeria and Indonesia are not only made up of a plethora of ethnic groups, which presupposes the availability of art-crafts, cultural heritage, and cultures but also coastal states that rely heavily on shipping for their economic development. The existence of art-crafts and cultural heritage also means that there are thriving tourism sectors and creative industries in both countries. Nonetheless, the spate of piratical attacks off the waters of Nigeria and Indonesia potentially threatens the economic and sociopolitical significance of art-craft, particularly in the exportation of art-craft items and the importation of materials for art-craft production, in both countries. Moreover, piracy threatens logistics in tourism in both countries, which depends on the art-craft industry for its sustenance. Also, piratical acts threaten the transportation of foreign tourists visiting tourist destinations in Nigeria and Indonesia. Thus, it becomes imperative to secure the transportation of people and art-craft items and materials through the sea to Nigeria and Indonesia. The paper argues that similar antipiracy measures can contribute to preventing piracy from affecting the art-craft industries in Nigeria and Indonesia, like strengthening piracy legal and institutional regime and cooperation among relevant stakeholders, especially neighboring countries, maritime organizations, and the shipping industry. The paper concludes by reiterating that though piratical attacks against vessels transporting art-craft items and materials have not been recorded, the incessant piratical acts off the waters of Nigeria and Indonesia suggest that attacks on vessels involved in the art-craft industry are imminent, and therefore, should be nipped in the bud.