IMO win heralds fresh momentum for Nigeria’s maritime industry

Nigeria’s return to Category C of the International Maritime Organisation Council has reinforced its standing in the global maritime community, restoring a seat last held in 2011. The election, concluded at the IMO General Assembly in London, places the country among 20 nations with recognised maritime interests and balanced geographical representation. The win strengthens Nigeria’s influence on global shipping regulation, security, environmental standards, and blue-economy governance, reflecting renewed confidence in its maritime reforms, ANOZIE EGOLE reports

Friday, 28 November 2025, marks a significant moment in Nigeria’s history as the country clinched a historic win, returning to Category C of the International Maritime Organisation Council after 14 years of absence. The win came during the 34th Session of the IMO General Assembly in London, where member nations voted to fill seats for the 2026–2027 biennium.

Nigeria secured a seat in the category, a grouping reserved for countries with special interests in maritime transport or navigation, designed to ensure balanced geographical representation on the Council.

The PUNCH reported that the IMO is a specialised agency of the United Nations responsible for regulating international shipping, with a focus on safety, security, and the prevention of marine pollution.

With this election, Nigeria joins 19 other nations in the category, countries recognised for their special interests in maritime transport and navigation and selected to ensure balanced geographical representation within the IMO Council.

One advantage of being in the IMO, especially for a country like Nigeria, which has in recent times recorded huge success in the fight against piracy, is having a say in the IMO’s decisions, which will help the country push for collective security efforts, stronger regulation, and better compliance for both national and regional shipping, trade, and safety.

The position empowers Nigeria to influence policies on shipping safety, environmental regulation, navigation standards, pollution control, maritime security, and sustainable ocean governance. Given the country’s large coastline and critical position in the Gulf of Guinea, such influence could translate to stronger regional leadership.

However, it is safe to say that the successful bid was not a sudden breakthrough but rather the fruit of over twelve months of intensive diplomatic shuttling, targeted engagements, and sustained advocacy across multiple maritime blocs and nations.

Meanwhile, industry players opined that the victory is widely seen as a major diplomatic and maritime milestone, a sign that the global maritime community has renewed confidence in Nigeria’s reforms, security efforts, and its blue-economy ambitions.

According to the government and sector leaders, the victory signals renewed global trust in Nigeria’s maritime reforms and environmental and security commitments, especially its efforts in the Gulf of Guinea, a historically troubled maritime region.

On Tuesday, The PUNCH reported that the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, stated that the country’s return to the IMO reflects a renewed vote of confidence in its role within the international maritime system.

According to a statement signed by his media aide, Dr Bolaji Akinola, the minister disclosed this when he hosted an appreciation lunch for IMO delegates on Monday in London, where he reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to constructive global maritime engagement following the election victory.

Speaking further, Oyetola, while expressing deep gratitude on behalf of the country and President Bola Tinubu, emphasised that the “country’s return to the IMO Council reflects a renewed vote of confidence in the country’s role within the international maritime system.”

Oyetola noted that the support Nigeria received during the election was a reaffirmation of global belief in the nation’s constructive engagement and its commitment to contributing effectively to the organisation’s mission.

The minister described the election as both a privilege and a weighty responsibility, stressing that Nigeria understands the gravity of serving on a council that shapes critical global maritime policies.

Oyetola highlighted that the IMO’s mandate extends to improving international maritime safety, driving decarbonisation, protecting the marine environment, enhancing maritime security, and building a sustainable blue economy.

In the wake of the victory, Oyetola described the outcome as “a vote of confidence in our maritime reforms, security efforts in the Gulf of Guinea, and the bold vision” of the current administration.

Reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to multilateralism, he stated that the country will continue championing the values that underpin the IMO, including cooperation, transparency, regulatory stability, and equitable global maritime development.

“As a council member, Nigeria intends to intensify advocacy for capacity-building for developing nations, expand avenues for technical cooperation, and promote a level playing field that enables all states to confront emerging maritime challenges effectively,” he said.

Stakeholders speak

Many industry players have taken time to applaud the country for clinching this much-awaited victory, believing that Nigeria’s re-entry aligns with its ambition to transform its maritime domain into a robust blue economy, expanding ports, shipping operations, naval safety, hydrography, and maritime infrastructure.

The seat provides leverage for international cooperation, funding, and technical partnerships.

The Chairman of SIFAX Group, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, described the development as a historic national milestone and a triumph for the entire maritime industry, emphasising that Nigeria’s return to the IMO Council represents far more than a diplomatic success.

Afolabi, who spoke on Monday through a statement signed by the Group Head, Corporate Communications at SIFAX, Olumuyiwa Akande, obtained by The PUNCH, stressed that Nigeria’s return to the IMO Council is not only a victory for the government, “but also a triumph for the entire maritime industry and our nation’s standing in global shipping governance.”

Afolabi credited Oyetola’s leadership at the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy for renewed global confidence in Nigeria’s maritime sector.

“This historic achievement is glaring proof of your visionary leadership, tireless diplomacy, and steadfast dedication to repositioning Nigeria as a respected and influential maritime nation. Your stewardship at the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy has clearly inspired renewed international confidence in Nigeria’s maritime administration, safety standards, and blue economy aspirations.”

Speaking on the implications for private sector participation and industry growth, Afolabi noted that SIFAX Group is deeply encouraged by the achievement, as it reinforces the company’s confidence in the Federal Government’s reform-driven agenda for growth, competitiveness, and sustainable maritime development.

Afolabi concluded by reaffirming the Group’s dedication to national progress through the maritime sector and assured the minister of its ongoing support as he guides Nigeria towards greater relevance and influence in international maritime affairs.

Also, the National President of the Waterfront Boat Owners and Transporters Association of Nigeria, Mr. Babatope Fajemirokun, explained that the development marks a historic milestone for Nigeria.

He stressed that the move restores Nigeria’s influence in shaping global maritime policies, commending President Bola Tinubu for providing the leadership that strengthened Nigeria’s maritime institutions and advanced key reforms.

Fajemirokun noted that the victory contributed significantly to the positive perception of the country among IMO member states.

The frontline boat operator praised Oyetola, who led Nigeria’s delegation and coordinated a year-long global diplomatic campaign that culminated in the victory.

He described the minister’s role as pivotal in projecting Nigeria’s renewed commitment to maritime security, safety, and blue-economy development.

“Oyetola’s strategic engagements across continents and his dedication to repositioning Nigeria’s maritime sector clearly paid off with this victory,” he said.

He further extended his felicitations to the former Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority, Mr Bola Oyebamiji, for his contributions to strengthening the inland waterways sub-sector, which forms a critical component of Nigeria’s maritime identity.

Fajemirokun urged all maritime stakeholders to leverage the momentum of Nigeria’s reinstatement on the IMO Council to deepen collaboration, improve safety standards, and accelerate blue-economy development.

“We are optimistic that Nigeria’s return to the IMO Council will open fresh opportunities for growth, investment, and global partnerships in the maritime domain,” he said.

The Nigerian Ports Authority, in a post through its official Instagram account over the weekend, said the achievement was a testament to the visionary leadership, unwavering commitment to global best practices, and the tireless efforts of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Oyetola, and the dedicated heads of agencies under the ministry.

“Joining the IMO Council in Category C places Nigeria among the world’s leading maritime nations, amplifying our voices in shaping global maritime policies, safety standards, security, and environmental sustainability. It is a well-deserved recognition of Nigeria’s strategic importance as the maritime hub of West and Central Africa and the giant strides made in port efficiency, trade facilitation, and blue-economy development,” the post read in part.

Also speaking, the immediate past MD of NIWA, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, also felicitated President Tinubu and Oyetola over the victory.

In a statement over the weekend, Oyebamiji attributed the feat to the manifestation of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration and Oyetola’s inimitable administrative sagacity, competence, capability, and transformative leadership demonstrated since his appointment.

Oyebamiji, who is a frontline aspirant in the forthcoming governorship election in Osun State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, extolled Tinubu’s socioeconomic reforms across sectors as espoused in the renewed hope agenda, which he said has been the catalyst for the astronomical progress made by the current administration.

He acknowledged the monumental achievements recorded under Oyetola’s leadership in the maritime sector, saying, “The victory further validated his uncommon patriotism, commitment, and dedication to national integration, growth, and development.”

“This hard-won victory is a testament to President Tinubu’s avowed commitment to redefine the nation’s economy and take Nigeria to greater heights. It is also a testimony to the relentless efforts of the minister towards uplifting the maritime sector for global competition and reckoning,” he said.

According to him, Nigeria’s return to the global community of maritime nations is a sign that Nigeria is in safe hands.

He reiterated that the development is a welcome development and a great advancement in the history of Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

“With this, my boss, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Oyetola, has further proved his worth, administrative acumen, and astuteness in taking the ministry to enviable heights,” Oyebamiji added.

The National President of the Nigerian Association of Master Mariners, Tajudeen Alao, while congratulating Nigeria, stated that the country will now have a say in maritime decision-making.

“Congratulations to Nigeria; with this, it means that Nigeria now has a say in decision-making in the international maritime space. It means certain decisions in the sector will be part of it, with special interest in marine transportation and safety,” Alao said.

Also speaking, a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Temisan Omatseye, said, “I congratulate Nigeria for the victory.”

When asked what he expected from Nigeria following its victory in the IMO Category C seat, Omatseye said, “I’m not sure what the campaign focused on, so I can’t say much about it.”

Conclusion

A licensed agent, Mr. Timothy Okwums, said, “This victory offers Nigeria a platform to shape global shipping standards and the opportunity to steer maritime safety, security, environmental protection, and ocean governance in ways that benefit Nigeria and Africa at large.”

Okwums highlighted that the real test begins now, whether Nigeria can translate the seat into concrete reforms, sustainable blue-economy growth, improved maritime infrastructure, and stronger regional leadership.