By Stephen Ubaana
Ahead of the International Maritime Organisation, IMO, a maritime agency of the United Nation, UN, between November and December, election in London, United Kingdom, UK, this 2025, Adegboyega Oyetola, a former governor of Osun state and now minister of marine and blue economy is leaving no stone unturned to see that Nigeria secures enough votes to win the Category C, Council Seat.
This may have informed why the former Osun state governor who had set up an inter-ministerial Committee under the Chairmanship of Dayo-Mobereola, Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, to promote Nigeria Campaign for the IMO Council election on his own part is reaching out to other maritime nations to open a new chapter of collaboration and support. This appears to be yielding fruit.
On Thursday, September 4, 2025, minister Oyetola, had received Yu Dunhai, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria at the ministry’s corporate Headquarters in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
The minister may have used the opportunity provided by the Chinese envoy visit to commend the maritime giant for the long-standing bilateral relationship between Nigeria and President Xi Jinping home country, who recently celebrated a victory Day parade marking 80 years since the end of WW 2, in Beijing, the country’s Capital, had described it as ‘’mutually beneficial and pivotal to the growth of both nations’’.
The minister who could not hide his feelings was said to have made the Chinese envoy who listened with rapt attention to understand that’’ Nigeria, with its extensive coastline and rich maritime resources, is strategically positioned to become a hub for marine trade, logistics and investment in the African continent’’.
He was said to spoken extensively about Nigeria’s maritime endowments, highlighting the country’s 853 Kilometers, of coastline along the Atlantic Ocean, its vast inland waterways spanning over 10 kilometers, and the abundant marine biodiversity that supports aquaculture, fishing and other blue economy activities.
He did not stop there. He had explained that the most populous West African nation maritime domain holds ‘’ immense potential for shipping, port operations, fisheries, renewable ocean energy, marine tourism and coastal infrastructure and development’’.
Giving an insider information of Nigeria’s maritime domain, in his capacity as the minister of marine and blue economy the former Osun state governor noted that ‘’marine and the blue economy sector in the Nigerian economy is a frontier for wealth creation, job opportunities, and sustainable development if properly harnessed’’.
He may have gladdened the heat of the Chinese envoy when he declared that that the ministry under his leadership is determined ‘’to create a framework for investment and partnership’’, stating that ‘’Nigeria has a lot to learn from China’s marine and blue economy development’’.
He was said to have further remarked that ‘’Nigeria’s vast fisheries could support food security while contributing significantly to foreign exchange earnings’’. He had expressed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Administration’s desire to collaborate with Jinping’s government in tackling illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in Nigerian waters by foreign fisher men’’, which over the years had undermined the country’s economic and food security.
He may have spoken the mind of President Tinubu, when he reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness ‘’to strengthen its bilateral relations with China, particular, in marine resource management, port development, and capacity building’’, stressing that Amb. Dunhai visit to the ministry underscores the growing recognition of the marine and blue economy as a critical driver of the country’s sustainable growth and cornerstone of the Nigeria-China strategic partnership.
Minister Oyetola who has never misses any opportunity to drum for support for Nigeria’s election into the Council was said to have sought the support of China, as a maritime giant to Nigeria bid for the IMO Seat.
In his apparent response to the ministerial remarks, Amb. Dunhai, the Chinese envoy, had said that the visit to Hon. Oyetola. Was in furtherance of ‘’the strong partnership between Nigeria and China’’. The envoy had recalled that it has been exactly one year since President Tinubu, who was not one of the invited world Leaders at the country’s recently Victory Day parade in Beijing, had paid a state visit to China, where he had met Jinping, the country’s Leader.
The Chinese envoy, ha said that the visit to Oyetola, the minister overseeing Nigeria’s ministry of marine and blue economy in his FCT, office, has produced significant economic benefits for the two maritime nations, including deepened cooperation in trade, infrastructure and industrial development.
Speaking as an expert on the country’s maritime sector, Amb. Dunhai, had declared that ‘’the marine and blue economy is the future of the global economy’’, lauding Nigeria’s vast maritime endowment and reaffirming China’s readiness ‘’to support the nation in harnessing its marine and blue economy potential’’.
The Chinese envoy had alluded to the Lekki Deep Seaport, located in Lagos, the nation’s Commercial nerve centre, constructed by China Harbour Engineering Company, CHEC, as a shining example of Sino- Nigeria collaboration.
He had asserted that the port, Nigeria’s first deep seaport and one of the larges in the West and Central African sub-regions is capable of handling ultra-large container vessels and significantly boosting Nigeria’s trade volume.
He had declared without mincing words that the Lekki Deep Seaport has created thousands of direct and indirect jobs, eased congestion at the Lagos ports of Apapa and Tin-can Island, and ensured faster cargo clearance, which has positioned Nigeria as a key maritime hub in the West and Central African subregions.
The envoy, may have taken advantage of the improved trade between Nigeria and China, to give his words that the Lekki Deep Seaport alone, is expected to rake in billions of the North American country of the United States dollars, to the Nigerian economy over the concession period of project, making it a major contributor to Nigeria’s economic growth.
The Chines Ambassador to Nigeria, had disclosed to the hearing of the Nigerian minister of marine and blue economy that an agreement is in the works for the export of Nigerian agricultural products to China, which will open new markets for local producers and strengthen food trade ties between the two nations.
The good news was that the two parties had reaffirmed their commitment to building on the solid foundation of China-Nigeria relations, with minister Oyetola expressing optimism that ‘’new avenues of collaboration would emerge from the engagement’’.
He was emphatic that ‘’Nigeria’s marine and blue economy holds tremendous opportunities for investors, noting that with China’s cooperation,’’ we are confident of unlocking this potential for the benefit of our people’’.
In a related development, Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary General, IMO, is scheduled to embark on a three-day working visit to Nigeria from Oct.2, 2025 to Oct.4, 2025. The NIMASA, Chief Executive Officer, CEO, and Chairman of the inter-ministerial Committee to promote Nigeria Campaign for the IMO Council Seat, who made the disclosure at a recent visit to Rear Admiral Michael Gregory Oamen, Flag Officer, FOG, Western Naval Command, had said that the IMO, Secretary General will tour Nigerian Naval installations as well as NIMASA facilities in Lagos , underscoring the significance Nigeria’s efforts in enhancing maritime security and promoting international cooperation.
The NIMASA, boss may have visited the Western marine FOC, to prepare his mind about Dominguez, the IMO secretary General planned visit to the country as he had commended the Western Naval Chief for sustaining the long-standing collaboration between the Navy and the maritime agency, describing it as ‘’a model for the country’s maritime sector development’’. He was said to have told those that cares to listen that the visit to the FOC, Western Naval Command was a demonstration of the deep and useful partnership between the maritime regulatory agency and the Navy, under the close watch of Vice Emmanuel Ogalla, which has continued to yield positive outcomes for the nation’s maritime domain.
The NIMASA, Director General had given an instance of ‘’the reduction of piracy and maritime crimes in Nigerian waters and the Gulf of Guinea’’, which many believes is a template that can be replicated by other related-government agencies and regional partners.
Minister Oyetola had made reference to the partnership between NIMASA and the Navy in checkmating the activities of the pirates and other maritime crimes in Nigerian waters and the Gulf of Guinea as e was said to have repeatedly declared that Nigeria has recorded zero piracy incidents in its territorial waters in the last tree years, insisting that maritime security remains central to President Tinubu ‘Administration.
Rear Admiral Oamen, the FOC, Western Naval Command, had said that the Navy had sustained its efforts in checkmating the activities of the criminal elements in Nigerian waters and the Gulf of Guinea because of the synergy between the Navy and NIMASA, which remains critical to the growth and stability of the nation’s maritime sector and the West and Central African region in general.
