FG intensifies campaign for IMO Council seat
Nigeria has intensified its campaign for a seat on the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council under Category C at a high-profile meeting in New York.
Having officially flagged off the campaign in London on 18th June at the IMO Headquarters, the New York event forms part of a sustained diplomatic engagement to mobilise support ahead of the Council elections scheduled for later this year.
Delivering a speech, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, thanked the UN envoys for attending the reception held ahead of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, and emphasised that Nigeria’s candidature was not just an ambition but a solemn pledge of partnership with the international community.
Mr. Oyetola highlighted Nigeria’s extensive maritime endowments, which include 853 kilometres of coastline, over 10,000 kilometres of inland waterways, and a large Exclusive Economic Zone, as well as the country’s strategic location on the Gulf of Guinea, a corridor of vital commercial significance.
He noted that Nigeria is committed to the IMO’s core mandate of safe, secure, environmentally responsible, efficient and sustainable shipping.
The Minister drew attention to Nigeria’s track record of action, especially the transformative Deep Blue Project under the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), which has coordinated air, land and sea assets to enhance maritime security.
Zero Piracy
He disclosed that for three consecutive years, Nigeria has recorded zero piracy incidents in its waters, while piracy in the broader Gulf of Guinea has dropped, an achievement he said has restored confidence among international shipping stakeholders and affirmed Nigeria’s role as a force to be reckoned with in maritime safety.
“In recent years, we have transformed the maritime security architecture of our region. Through the landmark Deep Blue Project, we have established a multi-layered, integrated maritime security framework, coordinating air, land, and sea assets under the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
“The results speak for themselves: for three consecutive years, Nigeria has recorded zero piracy incidents on its waters, while incidents in the Gulf of Guinea have drastically reduced, restoring confidence for international shipping and underscoring Nigeria’s role as a guarantor of maritime safety.
“Our ports serve as critical gateways for trade in West and Central Africa, while our shipping industry remains one of the largest in sub-Saharan Africa. With a renewed national focus on the blue economy and robust institutional reforms, Nigeria is repositioning itself as a regional maritime powerhouse and a dependable global partner in shaping the future of international shipping,” he added.
According to him, as part of Nigeria’s renewed institutional reforms and growing blue economy agenda, it has ratified and domesticated key IMO conventions and is actively working to accede to additional instruments addressing greenhouse gas emissions, biofouling, and maritime labour rights. Compliance with regulations on emissions, pollution control, and sustainable port operations is central to this alignment with global norms.
“Nigeria has signed the Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) and has already commenced its ratification process. Demonstrating regional leadership, Nigeria has also spearheaded efforts among West African nations, validating a regional roadmap for the development of a proposal to designate a High Seas Marine Protected Area in the Convergence Zone of the Canary and Guinea Currents.
“Nigeria envisions an IMO that is representative, inclusive, and forward-looking. With a population exceeding 240 million — of whom nearly 60 per cent are under 19 years old — Nigeria stands as both a regional maritime leader and a partner for the future. We are making sustained investments in maritime education, capacity-building, and skills transfer. We are also committed to gender inclusivity, fostering the participation of women as seafarers, port operators, and maritime leaders — because global progress must rest on shared opportunity,” Oyetola said.
Reciprocity and Solidarity
Nigeria’s campaign, according to Oyetola, is grounded in reciprocity and solidarity.
The strategy seeks bilateral and multilateral bridging, with Nigeria sharing technical assistance and expertise with other developing states, particularly within Africa, Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries.
The Minister also formally addressed Permanent Representatives of African nations to the United Nations at a reception in Nigeria House.
He urged the envoys to support Nigeria as part of efforts to shape a maritime order that is safer, greener, more resilient and more inclusive; to safeguard trade, protect the planet, and uplift people.
VON
