By Stephen Ubanna
Ahead of the International Maritime Organisation, IMO, Council election slated between November and December, 2025, in London, United Kingdom, UK, in which Nigeria is vying for the Category c, seat, alongside 25 other maritime nations across other parts of the world, Arsenio Dminguez, the Secretary has kept to his words of paying a three-day working visit to Nigeria.
The IMO Secretary General may have heard so much about the gains that have been in the nation’s maritime over the last couple of years, particular in the area of security gains in the nation’s maritime domains and Gulf of Guinea that there had never been any reported case of piracy for three consecutive years that he needs to see things himself before finally passing judgement on Nigeria achievements.
Given the Nigerian Navy, under the close watch of Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, is one of the key security agencies that had been engaged by Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, under the Leadership of Dayo Mobereola, may have informed the IMO, boss has signified his intention to visit the Naval installations, particular, the Western Naval installations in Lagos, which are much involved in dealing decisively blow on the pirates using the country’s maritime security assets earmarked for the deep Blue Project.
It would be recalled that the deceased former President Muhammadu Buhari, had spent the US $195 million to engage the services of the Israeli security firm, Messrs HLSI Security Systems and Technologies Limited, to procure 17 interception Boats, 16 Coastal Patrol vessels, two Special Mission Vessels, two Special Mission aircrafts for Surveillance of Nigeria Exclusive Economic Zone, EEZ, three Helicopters and four Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, kept in the Custody of NIMASA.
Between 2022 and now, the Nigeria Navy , which operates and maintains the water security assets had been a major ally of NIMASA, in the nation’s maritime domain and the Nigeria side of the Gulf Guinea safe that Vice Admiral Ogalla, the Chief of Naval Staff and Adegboyega Oyetola, a former governor of Osun state and minister of marine and blue economy could beat their chest that there have not been any reported case of piracy attacks on ocean-going vessels laden with cargoes because of the tight security. This is because of the sustained Naval operations and surveillance which was said to have significantly improved security across the Nigeria waters. The activities of operation Delta sanity Naval personnel, several routine patrols and surveillance systems to keep Nigeria maritime domain safe was said to have resulted in the zero cases of piracy over the last three years.
It was not surprising why past and present Director General and Chief Executive CEO, of NIMASA, are very happy at the level of commitment and efforts that are being put in by the Nigerian Naval personnel both at the Eastern and Western Naval Command to constantly patrol the country water ways.
Dominguez, the IMO, Secretary General, who had arrived the country on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2025, based on what he may have heard and reports which he had read about Nigeria security gains before embarking on the three- day working visit may have gladdened the heart of Minister Oyetola , in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, during a courtesy call, accompanied by Mobereola, the NIMASA, CEO, his Management Team and other top ministry officials.
The IMO Chief, who could not hide his feelings had lauded Nigeria’s remarkable achievements in maritime security, particular, its success in ‘’recoding zero piracy incidents’’ over the last three consecutive years.
Describing the country’s ground breaking of the Deep Blue Project, as a model of regional cooperation in the Gulf of Guinea, an elated Dominguez, had said that the Nigerian Government investment in the area of Maritime Safety and Maritime Security infrastructure speaks volume.
He had alluded to the fact this could not have possible without the collaboration of its security agencies, particular, the Nigerian Navy, which he had said had yielded the tangible results in ‘’combating piracy and sea robbery and other maritime crimes in Nigeria waters.
Given his level of understanding of what obtains the 186-member nation of the IMO, which is a maritime agency of the United Nations, UN, which he currently leads, he had confirmed that ‘’these efforts by the government ‘’clearly demonstrates Nigeria’s Leadership and commitment to ensuring safer seas, not just for the country’s waters but for the wider West and Central African sub-regions’’.
The IMO Secretary General may have taken advantage of his visit to Nigeria to acknowledge Nigeria’s recent submission to the maritime Organisation Secretariat, in London, UK, of its Treaties that had signed and approved outlining its national and regional security initiatives.
He was said to have commended the progress that had been made in the nation’s maritime sector but stressed the need for continued infrastructural development and acquisition of modern cargo handling equipment at the Nigerian seaports. This is where Abubakar Dantsoho, Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, may have to sit by pushing the Concessionaires to ensure that he right thing is done.
The good news was that he had assured that the IMO, under his Leadership would remain committed ‘’to providing technical assistance through awareness campaigns, training programmes and capacity-building initiatives to industry stakeholders to compete with their partners in other parts of the world in quality service delivery.
He was said to have referenced the organisation’s ongoing projects like the planned regional conference scheduled to hold in Accra, Capital of the West Africa country of Ghana in January, 2026, on the Safe Seas Project, designed ‘’to consolidate contributions from Nigeria and other partner states in the African Continent’’.
He was said to have also announced discussions with the European Union, EU, which has Mark Rutte, as its Secretary General, aimed at Launching a new maritime governance project that would focus ports and security as well as two regional projects in South and West African subregions where much progress, he had said would be tracked through refined indicators.
Beyond maritime security, in the high seas, Dminguez, the IMO Secretary General, was said to have to have emphasized ‘’the need for countries to prepare for challenges ahead including the energy transition, the adoption of biofuels and financing mechanisms to support training of seafarers, infrastructure development, and the adoption of future fuels’’.
The take home for the Nigerian President was the praise he had lavished on hm was on the approved ‘’Nigeria Blue Economy Policy’’, describing as a bold policy initiative for harnessing marine resources sustainably’’.
His visit to Maritime Academy, MAN, Oron, Akwa Ibom, home state of Godswill Akpabio, the Nigeria Senate President, where he was said to have expressed admiration for the maritime Tertiary Institution facilities, particular, the training infrastructure.
Dominguez, has a word of advice for NIMASA, financing the Institution, as he was said to have encouraged greater collaboration between the Academy, the ministry of Education and industry stakeholders to guide young Nigerians in pursuing maritime careers.
In his apparent response to the IMO, Secretary General remarks, minister Oyetola, had that Dominguez’s visit ‘’reflected the strength of Nigeria’s relationship with global maritime body’’, noting that NIMASA, an agency of the ministry’s partnership with the Nigerian Navy and other industry stakeholders had been pivotal in ‘’surpassing piracy in the Gulf of Guinea and reaffirmed the country’s determination to consolidate on the security gains and further expand opportunities in the nation’s marine and blue economy sectors of the economy.
An appreciative former Osun state governor, had thank Dominguez, for choosing Nigeria for the visit and expressed optimism that discussions would further strengthen bilateral cooperation. Bolaji Akinla, Special Adviser to minister Oyetola, had said during the IMO Chief visit to Nigeria, top ministry officials and other industry stakeholders had made various presentations on the nation’s maritime sector to further enrich his understanding and acquire deeper knowledge of the workings of the country’s maritime sector and efforts being made by the government to reposition it over the years.
Mobereola, the NIMASA, boss was said to have spoken on the ongoing reforms and initiatives on the country’s maritime security, seafarer welfare and regulatory frameworks aimed at repositioning Nigeria as a leading maritime nation in the West and Central African sub-regions.
Kevin Okonna, the acting Rector, MAN, Oron, was said to have used the opportunity of the Dominguez’s visit to the school to showcase the Academy’s modern training facilities. He was said to have also underscored the importance of international partnerships in cadet exchange and simulator-based training.
The IMO, Chief, an insider confirmed had interacted with the cadets of MAN, Oron, urging them ‘’to embrace the emerging opportunities in the country’s maritime industry, particular, in renewable energy, green shipping and maritime technology’’.
Wang Quiang, the Chinese Managing Director of Lekki Free Trade Zone, LFTZ, in Lagos, the nation’s commercial nerve center, according to Akinola, the minister’s Media Aide, had outlined the port’s role in in boosting Nigeria’s cargo handling capacity, creating jobs, and attracting long-term foreign investments.
At the tail end of the Nigeria visit, Dominguez, according the minister’s Media Aide, was said to have given his commitment ‘’to working closely with Nigeria ‘’to strengthen maritime safety, enhance governance structures and drive the sustainable growth of the blue economy, as he had noted that ‘’the country’s achievements so far in the maritime sector ready serve as a model of excellence for Africa and beyond’’.
