By Stephen Ubanna
When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, applauded Adegboyega Oyetola, a former governor of Osun state and now minister of marine and blue economy and Dayo Mobereola, Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, for their dedication, strategic engagement and Professionalism in ensuring Nigeria’s election into the International Maritime Organisation, IMO, a United Nation, UN, maritime agency, not many had to revisit the issue.
T However, the FG, had shown that it is very much appreciative of the efforts of Mobereola, the Director General of NIMASA, particular, in taking Nigeria back to the global stage after 14 years absence in the IMO council, where policy decisions are taken on global maritime issues. It has acknowledged the agency’s Chief Executive Officer, CEO, ‘’strategic Leadership’’ described ‘’as instrumental in securing Nigeria’s victory to the council for the 2026-2027 biennium’’.
It would be recalled that when information filtered about Nigeria’s election into the IMO Category C, Seat , against the East African country of Kenya which was the previous occupant of the position for the 2024/25 biennium, the Nigerian President had said that ‘’it aligns with his Administrations’ drive ‘’to unlock full potential of Nigeria’s blue economy, expand maritime infrastructure, strengthen ant-piracy initiatives and improve the nation’s standing as a maritime hub in the West and Central African subregions’’.
Given an insider information on how Nigeria was able to secure the IMO Council Seat and why Mobereola, the NIMASA helmsman deserve a special mention for the feat, minister Oyetola, who could not hide his feelings disclosed that the NIMASA boss strategic engagement with the 186 IMO, member states and effective Campaign Coordination as the Chairman of the inter-ministerial Committee to promote Nigeria’s Campaign for the IMO Council Seat.
It was not surprising why the Nigerian President had thanked the IMO member States for their support and goodwill, pledging ‘’that Nigeria will justify the trust reposed on it through sustained leadership and active contribution to the advancement of international maritime objectives’’.
Acting out a script, the NIMASA, CEO and his Team members were said to have worked according to the mandate of the minister that the campaign must be all-inclusive, by taking into consideration diplomatic and operational strategies in soliciting for votes to yield good dividends.
The NIMASA Chief may not have wanted to fail the minister, who has the Committee all the necessary support to succeed as he had made clear that he will not take any excuse for answer if Nigeria fail to return to the Council this time around.
The Osun state former governor may have given the Mobereola led inter-ministerial Committee the audacity to ensure Nigeria’s election was not negotiable when he declared that it is imperative that Nigeria return to the Council given its strategic location and significance as a hub of maritime activities and as voice for the West and Central African subregions on the IMO Council where crucial decisions regarding international maritime shipping and trade are made.
Aware of ‘’the technical assistance, manpower and institutional development, as well as political influence in the maritime sector of the global economy’’ which Nigeria is expected to benefit from the global maritime body if it succeeds in winning the election into the Council, may have informed why Mobereola and his team had worked round the clock to convince countries which had voted Nigeria in the past elections to make a U-turn to support the country this time around.
Minister Oyetola who had conveyed the FG’s appreciation for the NIMASA, Director General’s outstanding service to the nation had expressed confidence in his continued contributions toward advancing the nation’s maritime ambitions to compete with other maritime nations like Liberia, Norway, and the Asia countries of China, Republic of Kora, Brazil, Canada, France, India, Spain, and United Arabs Emirates, UAE, among others.
Indeed, the minister had categorically stated that the NIMASA CEO, contributed the success of Nigeria’s election into the IMO Council for the 2026/27, biennium, to the dedication of the staff and support of industry stakeholders including the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Limited, NLNG, based in Bonny, Rivers state.
Even the NIMASA, Chief had re-echoed the minister’s remarks when he stated that Nigeria’s victory at the IMO, 2025, polls, reflects the dedication of the agency staff and the strong support of stakeholders and its further challenges to remain focused and committed in delivering on the agency mandate as the nation’s maritime Administration.
As a prelude to ensuring that Nigeria’s election into the IMO Council was not a misplace priority by member nations’ may have informed why Mobereola has called ‘’for renewed dedication across the maritime agency to justify the country’s success in the Council polls by strengthen efforts in maritime safety, security, marine environmental protection and capacity development’’.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian President had assured global maritime Community of the country’s readiness to partner with it to ensure safer seas, cleaner oceans, more efficient transport systems and to champion cooperation, innovation and fairness in global maritime regulation.
