The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez, has praised Nigeria’s leadership in maintaining the safety and security of commercial shipping in the Gulf of Guinea. Dominguez made the commendation during a meeting with Dr. Dayo Mobereola, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), at the IMO headquarters in London.
Dominguez highlighted Nigeria’s efforts, particularly in light of increased shipping traffic in the Gulf of Guinea due to instability in the Red Sea. “We appreciate the progress made by Nigeria in ensuring security in the Gulf of Guinea despite concerns arising from the situation in the Red Sea. The continued partnership between IMO and Nigeria through NIMASA has been instrumental in sustaining security in the region,” he stated.
The IMO Secretary-General also lauded Dr. Mobereola’s proactive engagement with the IMO’s technical team to address gaps identified during a 2016 audit of Nigeria’s maritime sector. He emphasized the importance of the collaboration and assured Nigeria of the IMO’s continued technical support, noting that efforts are underway to enhance the Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS) for improved service delivery to member states.
In response, the NIMASA DG, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening maritime security and positioning the country as a key player in global maritime diplomacy. “My administration will focus on sustaining recent achievements in safety and security, leveraging both local and international partnerships,” Mobereola said. He further emphasized the importance of the recently created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy by President Bola Tinubu, which underscores Nigeria’s dedication to advancing maritime interests.
Mobereola also pointed out that his meeting with the IMO technical team aimed to align NIMASA’s operations with global standards before the next IMO audit. “We are updating critical information regarding our administration, and we view the IMO audit as a tool to guide Nigeria in realizing its full maritime potential,” he added.
Additionally, Mobereola announced that Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, has constituted a committee to address all areas of concern raised in the 2016 IMO audit report. This includes a review of NIMASA’s enabling laws and the implementation of a corrective action plan.
