When Dr. Dayo Mobereola took office as Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) on March 22, 2024, he stepped into an agency grappling with training backlogs, regulatory gaps, and lingering international concerns over maritime security. Nearly two years on, the narrative has shifted.
Through sweeping reforms, global engagement, and digital transformation, NIMASA is repositioning Nigeria as a maritime force in Africa and a credible voice in global shipping governance.
Strengthening Human Capital
A cornerstone of the reform agenda has been workforce development. NIMASA cleared long-standing delays in the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP), resolving sea-time training bottlenecks that had stalled career progression for young cadets.
In 2025, Mobereola attended the graduation ceremony at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria—a symbolic affirmation of renewed institutional focus on maritime education. More than 235 cadets have since been deployed to leading maritime institutions in India and Greece to train as Licensed Deck and Engine Officers.
The agency also digitized verification of Certificates of Competency (CoC), aligning licensing processes with global STCW standards. Internally, structured staff training, performance-based promotions, and welfare reforms were introduced to strengthen professionalism and operational efficiency.
These efforts contributed to Nigeria’s election into Category C of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council for the 2026–2027 biennium—an endorsement of renewed global confidence in Nigeria’s maritime governance.
Return to the IMO Council
Nigeria’s election to the IMO Council in November 2025 marked its return after more than a decade. The campaign, led by the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in collaboration with NIMASA, highlighted improved maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea and regulatory reforms.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu commended the agency’s leadership, describing the achievement as recognition of Nigeria’s growing influence in global maritime affairs.
Digital Overhaul of Maritime Labour
In June 2025, the Federal Government launched the Maritime Labour E-Platform in Port Harcourt, modernizing registration for seafarers, dockworkers, and employers.
The platform centralizes biometric registration, accelerates documentation processes, and ensures compliance with the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006. It fulfills NIMASA’s statutory mandate to maintain an up-to-date maritime workers’ register while strengthening Nigeria’s competitiveness in the Blue Economy.
Hands-on stakeholder workshops in Lagos have supported adoption, ensuring smooth implementation and cybersecurity safeguards.
Enforcement: Operation Zero Tolerance
In January 2026, NIMASA introduced “Operation Zero Tolerance for Non-Compliance,” reinforcing enforcement of maritime laws.
Shipowners, operators, oil companies, charterers, and port stakeholders were directed to ensure valid registrations, updated documentation, Cabotage compliance, and payment of statutory levies.
A 30-day grace period allowed voluntary compliance, after which sanctions—including vessel detention, fines, and withdrawal of licenses—would apply. The initiative signals a shift toward firmer regulatory discipline across Nigeria’s maritime domain.
Infrastructure and PPP Strategy
To expand local capacity, NIMASA accredited 27 shipyards in 2025, strengthening Nigeria’s ship repair ecosystem. The agency is also advancing operationalization of the N50 billion Modular Floating Dock in Apapa, envisioned as a hub for vessel maintenance and training.
Recognizing funding constraints, Mobereola has advocated Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in collaboration with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), aiming to attract domestic and international investment into maritime infrastructure.
Campaign Against War Risk Insurance
Despite improvements in maritime security under Nigeria’s Deep Blue Project, the country remains classified as a high-risk zone by international insurers—leading to costly war risk insurance (WRI) premiums.
To address this, NIMASA has engaged global shipping bodies including BIMCO, International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), INTERCARGO, and INTERTANKO.
Discussions have focused on acknowledging Nigeria’s improved security profile and advocating removal of unjustified premiums that inflate shipping costs and undermine port competitiveness.
Climate Leadership and Decarbonization
At COP 30 in Brazil, NIMASA presented Nigeria’s Maritime Continuous Emissions Monitoring System, reinforcing the country’s commitment to global decarbonization efforts.
The initiative builds on earlier climate engagements, including collaboration with University College London to develop a maritime emissions inventory and advocacy for an African coalition to meet IMO greenhouse gas reduction targets.
The effort aligns Nigeria with international climate commitments while positioning it as a leader in African maritime environmental governance.
Seafarer Welfare and Labour Rights
At the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva, Nigeria endorsed amendments to key provisions of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006, expanding protections against discrimination, shipboard harassment, and inadequate welfare conditions.
NIMASA also facilitated a landmark Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria and shipping companies in 2025, improving working conditions and wage frameworks domestically.
Enhanced Maritime Security
Security partnerships remain central to Nigeria’s maritime gains. Collaboration between NIMASA and the Nigerian Navy has strengthened surveillance through integration of the agency’s C4i Centre with naval systems.
The United States Coast Guard (USCG), following port assessments in Lagos and Warri, rated Nigeria’s compliance with the ISPS Code among the best globally—an evaluation that could help lift restrictions on vessels sailing from Nigeria to U.S. ports.
International naval delegations have also cited Nigeria’s inter-agency coordination model as exemplary within the Gulf of Guinea.
Unlocking the Cabotage Fund
Progress has also been recorded on the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF), long delayed by administrative bottlenecks.
In January 2026, NIMASA commissioned an online CVFF application portal, signaling readiness for anticipated disbursements aimed at empowering indigenous shipowners and expanding Nigeria’s fleet capacity.
A Reform Agenda in Motion
From digital labour platforms and stricter enforcement to international advocacy and climate leadership, NIMASA’s reform trajectory reflects a broader ambition: transforming Nigeria’s maritime sector into a competitive, secure, and globally respected industry.
As 2026 unfolds, key tests lie ahead—effective enforcement of compliance measures, successful CVFF disbursement, operationalization of infrastructure projects, and progress on reducing war risk insurance premiums.
Yet the shift is evident. Under Mobereola’s leadership, NIMASA has moved beyond crisis management toward proactive maritime development—seeking to convert regulatory reform and global recognition into tangible economic gains for Nigeria’s blue economy.
