From left: NIMASA DG, Dr. Dayo Mobereola and the IMO Scribe, Arsenio Dominguez.

The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organisation, IMO, Arsenio Dominguez, has lauded Nigeria for leading the charge to maintain the safety and security of commercial shipping in the Gulf of Guinea, particularly in recent times when the crisis in the Red Sea has led to increased traffic in the region.

The IMO scribe, who stated this during a meeting with the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, at the IMO headquarters in London, also commended the NIMASA DG for engaging the technical team at the IMO on how Nigeria can address all identified gaps from the 2016 audit conducted by the organisation.

“I want to appreciate the effort of Nigeria on the progress made so far as regards security in the Gulf of Guinea region. There were concerns due to the situation in the Red Sea and resultant pressure around the Gulf of Guinea but we are pleased that the situation has remained the same.

“We at the IMO have been working with Nigeria through NIMASA and we desire that the partnership continues. I am also happy that you, DG, are meeting with the IMO technical staff on how to close all identified gaps before the next audit cycle. This is a step in the right direction and we are ready to give any technical support”, he stated.

Dominguez also announced that the IMO is working on enhancing the Global Integrated Shipping Information System GISIS to provide better services to member states in terms of information management.

Meanwhile, the NIMASA DG, Dr Mobereola, assured that the Agency under his watch will pay close attention to details on how Nigeria can become a voice to be reckoned with in global maritime diplomacy, adding that Nigeria is committed to sustaining the momentum of recent achievements in safety and security within the maritime domain.

“My tenure will leverage existing relationships both locally and internationally to sustain the momentum in safety and security within the Nigerian maritime domain. The creation of the Marine and Blue Economy Ministry in Nigeria by Mr. President emphasises the policy direction of this administration. Our goal is to ensure that Nigeria plays an active leading role not just in the region or the IMO, but in the global maritime space.

“My meeting with IMO technical staffer was aimed at ensuring that NIMASA and the IMO are aligned before the next audit cycle.  I have discovered today that some critical information regarding our administration and the technical team at the IMO is obsolete, and we are reviewing it to update it immediately.

“We do not see the IMO audit as an examination but rather as a guide to assist Nigeria in achieving its potential; hence, my decision to get personally involved. We need to get the basics right”, he further stated. 

The DG also announced that the Honorable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola CON, has constituted a committee to address all areas of concern raised in the 2016 IMO audit report. This includes reviewing NIMASA’s enabling laws and effectively implementing a corrective action plan.