By Stephen Ubanna
With barely seven months to the International Maritime Organisation, IMO, headquartered in London, United Kingdom, UK, Council election, Adegboyeaga Oyetola, a former governor of Osun state and now minister of marine and blue economy, appears determined to see that Nigeria secure Council Category C, Seat, currently occupied by Kenya.
The former Osun state governor, who, industry stakeholders believe is leaving no unturned to see that Nigeria secure the IMO Council Seat which it had lost at different elections, had set up the Dayo Mobereola, Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration, NIMASA, led Inter Ministerial Committee, to reach out to the member countries of the IMO, both within and
outside the African Continent
The major concern of the Nigerian minister of marine and blue economy is to see that Nigeria securethe block vote of the IMO members from the West and Central African sub-region and go all out to share the vote from the East and North African subregion and member countries of the Organisation from other parts of the world.
Rukia Shante, Vice Chairman of the TANZANIA Shipping Agencies Corporation, TASAC, declaration during a recent working visit to NIMASA, head office in Lagos, the nation’s commercial nervenue that the Est African country would support Nigeria’s bid for the Council ‘sSeat in the upcoming November/December, 2025, election.
There are several other African countries which were said to have also thrown their weight behind Nigerian’s IMO Council Seat, believed would give the Continent a voice in in global maritime discussions and policy formulations.
The minister who has the backing of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, according to an insider is using his political expertise to reach out to the diplomatic Community as he woos their support for Nigeria’s bid to contest the IMO Council Seat.
Only recently, the minister Oyetola had received Marc Fonbaustier, France Ambassador in Nigeria, in his office at Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, a visit, the stakeholders had said would further deepen maritime and diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The minister may have advantage of the existing Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, between Nigeria and France, to collaborate in the area of research, training and Nigerian student exchanges and skills transfer as well as promotion of sustainable mining activities by executing projects programmes to reduce the environmental impact of mining on carbon emmissions may, may have forced the minister to speak out during interaction with the France Ambassador. There is no gain saying the fact the engagement had come at a time Nigeria is reaching out to countries in the African Continent, Europe, Asia, North and Sith American Continent, to seek their support for Nigeria’s bid for IMO Council Seat.
The minster, who could hide his feelings was said to have taken advantage of the France Ambassador, accompanied by one Ms Alice Ellenbogen, political Councillor at the French Embassy in Nigeria visit to is Abuja office to make a strong case for France’s support for Nigeria’s bid to secure A Seat the IMO Council in the upcoming election in UK.
He was said to have made the France Ambassador to understand that Nigeria as the Leading Maritime Nation in the West and Central African sub region and a gateway to the Gulf of Guinea, has continued to play role in advancing maritime Safety, Regional security and Ocean governance.
The minister to the French envoy that Nigeria’s membership in the IMO Council would reinforce its contribution s to international maritime regulation and sustainability, and coming at a time when global collaboration is critical ‘’to addressing the complex challenges facing the world’s oceans. He did not stop there.
The former south west, Osun state governor, who many believes had acclimatized himself with the workings of the global maritime industry to win the heart of stakeholders was said to have informed the Ambassador who was all ears of the recent approval of Nigeria’s National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy by the Federal Executive Council, FEC.
The New Policy, according the minister is expected to provide a comprehensive network to guide sustainable development of Nigeria’s marine resources, stimulate economic growth, create job opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths across the country and further promote environment Promotion.
He had explained that the policy aligns with global ocean agenda and supports the achievement of sustainable Development Goal 14, which seeks ‘’to serve and sustainably use the ocean, seas and marine resources for the country’s advantage.
An elated minister Oyetola was said to have also discussed on the country’s planned participation in the forthcoming World Oceans Day and the third United Nations, UN, conference.
, Building on the first two editions in 2017 and 2022, he had alluded to the fact third Conference would be co-Chaired by France, believed to have been forced out from the Sahel region by Burkina Faso, Niger Republic and Mali, all member countries of AES and Costa Rica.
The Theme of this this year’s third ocean conference, the Value News online Magazine was informed is ‘’Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean. The Conference in Nice, a city in France, is expected to generate concrete commitment and mobilize science=based solutions and financing toward the sustainability development of the global marine ecosystems.
The Osun state born politician had retreated Nigeria’s readiness to contribute meaningfully to the ocean conference in Nice, stressing that the country’s commitment to global cooperation in advancing ocean health, maritime security, and blue economy innovation knows no bound.
Putting on the arb of a politician he was said to have highlighted Nigeria’s landmark achievements in maritime security, particular, in the area of combating piracy and sea robbery n Nigerian waters and the Gulf Guinea.
He had averred that through Coordinated initiatives like the deep Ble Project and enhanced inter-agency collaboration, Nigeria has completely eliminated piracy and sea robbery incidents, transforming the Gulf of Guinea region into a more secure maritime corridor that ocean-going vessels laden with cargoes enter the region without fear of being harassed by pirates while on voyage
In apparent response to the minister’s speech the French envoy, had praised the decision of the Nigerian President to participate in the UNOC3, through Oyetola, overseeing the nation’s marine and blue economy ministry.
The Ambassador may have spoken the mind of President Macron, when he noted that the country looks forward to Nigeria’s robust engagement at the conference to furthering bilateral cooperation in marine sustainability, security and development.
Bolaji Akinola, Media and Communications Adviser to the minister had said that ‘’the meeting between the two top government officials from Nigeria and France, marks a significant moment in Nigeria’s maritime diplomacy and underscores the strategic importance of international collaboration as nations prepare to convene in Nice to chart a new course for future of the Ocean resources.
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