Nigeria seeks stronger global maritime cooperation

By Adebola Muili

Nigeria has called for stronger global maritime cooperation to improve shipping safety, strengthen regulatory performance and enhance the competitiveness of its maritime industry.

The call was made by the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dayo Mobereola, while representing the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, at the 2026 World Maritime Day Parallel Event in Busan, Republic of Korea.

This was contained in a statement issued by NIMASA’s Deputy Director and Head of Public Relations, Osagie Edward, on Wednesday, October 28.

Mobereola stressed the need for countries to translate discussions and engagements at the international gathering into practical partnerships capable of delivering measurable benefits, particularly in maritime regulation, professional capacity development and industry competitiveness.

He said Nigeria would leverage the opportunities presented by the event to strengthen its regulatory framework, expand opportunities for Nigerian maritime professionals and improve the country’s standing in the global maritime industry.

According to him, these priorities are consistent with the Federal Government’s Marine and Blue Economy agenda and its efforts to harness the sector’s potential for national development.

The NIMASA director-general noted that sustained international cooperation was essential to addressing emerging challenges in global shipping, promoting innovation and advancing a maritime industry that is safe, efficient and environmentally responsible.

He emphasised that collaboration among maritime nations would provide opportunities for exchanging ideas, expertise and technologies needed to address shared challenges and improve the overall performance of the industry.

Mobereola is leading Nigeria’s delegation to the event, which brings together maritime leaders, policymakers and industry stakeholders to deliberate on issues affecting global shipping and explore opportunities for international cooperation.

In a related development, Mobereola met with former Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Kitack Lim, and acknowledged his contributions to the development of the global maritime sector during his tenure at the helm of the United Nations specialised agency.

The engagement also underscored the importance of maintaining dialogue and cooperation among maritime leaders to advance common industry objectives and support the development of the global maritime community.

Nigeria’s participation in the event highlights the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening international maritime relations, building professional capacity and pursuing strategic partnerships to harness the potential of the marine and blue economy.