The Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) has stepped up its advocacy on war risks insurance (WRI) premium imposed on vessels calling in Nigeria’s seaports.
To this end, MARAN which remains the umbrella body of journalists covering the maritime sector of the economy has made public an eight-man-committee to address some of the issues raised at the third edition of its annual maritime lecture (MAMAL) 2025.
Maritime Bits had reported that a number of decisions were reached by participants at the annual lecture. These decisions which were captured in the communique issued at the end of MAMAL 2025 were meant to address some of the critical issues plaguing the shipping sector of the economy with particular reference to WRI.
The committee was formed on August 27, 2025 at Four Points by Sheraton, Victoria Island, Lagos and it is chaired by a maritime security expert, Mr. Emmanuel Maiguwa while Mr. Oluyinka Onigbinde serves as its Secretary.
Other members include veteran ship owner, Engr. Greg Ogbeifun; former Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Temisan Omatseye; President of MARAN, Mr. Godfrey Bivbere; Special Adviser on Media to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Bolaji Akinola; Protection andIndemnity (P&I) Club consultant, Ms. Ejide Shodipo; and the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Gregory Oaemen.
The committee’s mandate is to coordinate engagements with local and international stakeholders with the aim of securing the suspension of WRI premiums, which stakeholders argue have become unjustifiable in light of Nigeria’s improved maritime security.
Maritime Bits had reported that at MAMAL 2025 with the theme “Addressing the Burden of War Risk Insurance on Nigeria’s Maritime Trade,” stakeholders noted that Nigerian shippers havepaid more than $5 billion in surcharges in the last three years.
The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Dr. Pius Akutah, represented by NSC Director of Regulatory Affairs, Mrs. Margaret Ogbonna, maintained that the premiums were no longer defensible.
He pointed out that Nigeria has recorded four years without major piracy incidents which he attributed this to the combined efforts of the Navy, NIMASA, and the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy through initiatives such as the Deep Blue Project and enforcement of the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences (SPOMO) Act.
Ogbeifun who was the chairman of the occasion charged industry players to ensure that measurable results are achieved before MAMAL 2026, stressing that sustained advocacy must lead to tangible outcomes.
On his part, Omatseye criticized the London-based Joint War Risk Committee, describing its continued classification of Nigeria as a high-risk country as discriminatory.
According to him, while Nigeria is charged war risk rates of up to 0.65 percent, countries with weakersecurity profiles such as Pakistan pay as little as 0.25 per cent.
Also speaking, the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, represented by Mr. Victor Iloh reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to sustaining maritime security gains and to supporting collective advocacy aimed at achieving the removal of the charges.
Apparently pleased by the outcome of the event, MARAN stated that the committee will pursue follow-up actions, monitor progress and provide periodic updates to stakeholders.
It stressed that the ultimate objective is to position Nigeria as a cost-competitive and secure maritime hub by bringing an end to the war risk surcharge regime.
