*Oyetola Inaugurates Inter-Ministerial Committee for IMO Election
Eight years after they were left to gather layers of dust in the drawers of top government officials in the ministry, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has finally signed the instruments of accession for six Conventions of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
The six instruments signed by Tinubu include the Instrument of Accession of the Protocol of 2005 to the 1988; Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Fixed Platforms on the Continental Shelf; Instrument of Accession of the International Convention of Standards of Training, Certification; and the Watch-keeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel 1995.
Others are the Instrument of Accession of the Protocol Relating to Intervention on the High Seas in cases of Pollution by Substances other than Oil, 1973 as Amended (Intervention Protocol); Instrument of Accession to the Protocol of 1996 to Amend the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims (LLMC) 1976; Instrument of Accession to the Protocol to the 1974 Athens Convention Relating to the Carriage of Passengers and Their Luggage by Sea, 2002; and the Instrument of Accession to the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009.
Tinubu’s action will pave the way for Nigeria to officially deposit these instruments of accession at the IMO headquarters, London United Kingdom which serves as the repository for such conventions.
A statement signed by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Assistant Director, Public Relations, Mr. Edward Osagie said NIMASA Director General, Dr. Dayo Mobereola formally presented the instruments to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola in Abuja recently.
The statement which was made available to Maritime Bits quoted Mobereola expressing gratitude to Oyetola for facilitating the signing of the IMO conventions by the President after several years of being pending in the Ministry.
His words: “These six instruments have been lying within the Ministry for the last 6 to 8 years, and thanks to the efforts of the Honorable Minister, they have now been assented to by the President. This is a landmark achievement for Nigeria, as the IMO will soon update our records to recognize these instruments”.
On his part, Oyetola reassured stakeholders of Tinubu’s commitment to developing the Nigerian maritime industry in line with global best practices.
According to the NIMASA helmsman, by signing these instruments of accession, the President has reaffirmed this administration’s determination to take its rightful position among the comity of maritime nations. This development will undoubtedly further reassure member states and stakeholders of Nigeria’s resolve and determination to be a leading member of the decision-making body of the IMO.
He revealed that the deposit of these six instruments of ratification will be carried out by the supervising ministry (FMMBE) and NIMASA.
Meanwhile, Oyetola has inaugurated an inter-ministerial committee for Nigeria’s election to the IMO Executive Council at the 34th Regular Session in 2025 comprises high-level officials led by the Permanent Secretary of the FMMBE, Mr. Olufemi Oloruntola.
The inauguration which was witnessed by some stakeholders in the maritime industry and beyond took place at the Boardroom of the ministry in Abuja.
The committee is tasked with identifying activities and actions that will promote Nigeria’s standing in the IMO community by articulating and showcasing the country’s maritime achievements.
Members of the committee include the Director of Maritime Security and Safety from the FMMBE and Mobereola who will serve as alternate chairpersons.
Other members are the Directors of Legal Services and Maritime Services from the FMMBE, the Director of International Organisations Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), the Managing Director of the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), and the Rector of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, Akwa Ibom State.
Others include the former Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Ade Dosunmu (stakeholder); the representative of the Office of the Honourable Minister of the FMMBE, Dr. Charles Akinola; and the Assistant Director, Maritime Pollution Control at the FMMBE, Mr. Paschal Ogah, who will serve as Secretary to the Committee.
Oyetola in his charge to members of the committee called for a comprehensive action in Nigeria’s bid to be elected into Category C of IMO Council.
He said the campaign must be all-inclusive, taking into consideration diplomatic and operational strategies in soliciting votes to yield good dividends.
He explained that, having lost out three times between 2011 and 2019 after its successful stints in 1975, 2001, and 2005, Nigeria is due to return to the Council to cement its relevance as a strategic Maritime domain and a strong voice in West Africa.
Mobereola in his remarks said: “The need for Nigeria’s return to Council is imperative given our strategic location and significance as a hub of Maritime activities and as a voice for the sub-region on the IMO Council, where crucial decisions regarding international maritime shipping and trade are made”.
He added that membership in the Council comes with such benefits as “technical assistance, manpower and institutional development, as well as political influence in the maritime sector of the global economy.”
