An Eye on the Seat
Nigeria set to seek election into the International Maritime Organidation’s Council
By Ogheneyovwe Edomi
It has been the desire of the country’s leaders, for Nigeria, as a maritime nation to be elected into at least category C of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council. Under the President Bola Tinubu’s administration, the Honorable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, has expressed Nigeria’s interest to seek election into Category “C” of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council The last time Nigeria won the Category C seat of the IMO was in 2009.
Speaking at the 2024 World Maritime Day parallel event in Barcelona, Spain, Oyetola noted that Nigeria has put in place the basic needs to develop the nation’s maritime industry in line with recognized global best practices.
In his words, “our active participation in upholding key conventions, such as the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, reflects our dedication to ensuring the safety of international shipping.
Furthermore, he noted that there have been no incidents of piracy in the last three years, as confirmed by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) This he noted was achieved by deploying resources to provide maritime security assets and by so doing Nigeria has solidified its role as a key guardian of maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.
Accordingly, he stated that “Nigeria remains a valuable source of manpower for the industry. I therefore urge our partners to explore this potential and assist where possible in the best interest of all. Our Maritime Academy has adequate resources and facilities to support this development”. An insider says it is with this conviction that he announced to the gathering: ” I m pleased to announce Nigeria’s resolve to seek a Category “C” membership on the Council.
On his part, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, assured maritime stakeholders that no stone will be left unturned to ensure success in the quest for IMO Category C membership at the next elections.
According to him, “We at NIMASA have met with the IMO technical team and have commenced work on all identified grey areas so that Nigeria can address the gaps identified during the last audit by the IMO. ”We have also commenced the process of effective communication with other member states using the IMO GSIS platform, among others. While we at NIMASA focus on the technical aspects of the preparations, our supervising Ministry will provide the political will to guide Nigeria back to the Council at the IMO.”. He stated.
Oyetola, who held engagement sessions with the IMO Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez and other diplomats, was accompanied on the working tour by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olufemi Oloruntola; the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola; the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho; the Managing Director of NIWA, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji; and the Director of Maritime Safety and Security Services, Mr. Babatunde Bombata.
This year’s parallel event with the theme: Navigating the Future: Safety First, brought together international maritime leaders and experts to discuss future challenges and opportunities, with the aim of ensuring that safety is prioritized in the day-to-day operations of the global maritime sector.