Nigeria Officially Flags Off Campaign For IMO Council Election

 By Stella Okocha 

Harboursandport.com: Lagos - June 20,2025:  The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola,, and the acting High Commissioner of Nigeria to the United Kingdom, Mercy Haruna-Adeoye, have officially flagged off Nigeria's campaign for election into Category C of the International Maritime Organization, IMO Council under for the 2026–2027 biennium at the International Maritime Organization, IMO, Headquarters in London.

L-R: Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola; Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola, CON; Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Mr. Arsenio Dominguez; Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Olufemi Oloruntola; Acting High Commissioner of Nigeria to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Mercy Haruna-Adeoye and the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, during the launch of Nigeria's campaign for election to Category C of the IMO Council for the 2026–2027 biennium, at the IMO Headquarters in London.

Speaking during his keynote address, Oyetola noted that it was major diplomatic move on the sidelines of the 110th Session of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 110), and emphasised Nigeria’s unwavering dedication to the IMO’s mandate.

L-R: Ecuadorian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), H.E. Ecuadorian Gabriel Villafuerte; Ecuadorian Alternate Permanent Representative to IMO, Ms. Luisa Burgess; Nigeria's Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola, CON and the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Olufemi Oloruntola, during the launch of Nigeria's campaign for election to Category C of the IMO Council for the 2026–2027 biennium, at the IMO Headquarters in London. 

Oyetola emphasized that the implementation of the Deep Blue Project, has resulted in zero piracy incidents in Nigeria’s territorial waters over the past three years, a milestone that has drawn global commendation, including from the International Maritime Bureau IMB. He added that the Deep Blue Project, a model of maritime security innovation, Coordinated by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA, is the multi-layered initiative integrates air, land, and sea assets to protect Nigeria’s maritime domain. 

“Today, we formally declare Nigeria’s candidacy for re-election to the IMO Council under Category C for the 2026–2027 biennium,” he announced. “As a responsible maritime nation strategically located on the Gulf of Guinea — one of the most commercially significant and security-sensitive shipping routes in the world — Nigeria remains resolute in supporting the IMO’s mandate to promote safe, secure, environmentally sound, efficient and sustainable shipping.”

“We are investing in maritime education and capacity development, with the potential to contribute over two million skilled seafarers to the global labour pool in the coming decade,” a vote for Nigeria is a vote for representation, collaboration, and balanced decision-making in global maritime governance. We stand ready to work with all Member States to build a safer, greener, and more inclusive maritime future.”

The Director-General of NIMASA, Dayo Mobereola, who also spoke at the event , reaffirms Nigeria’s enduring role in the international maritime community.

 “Nigeria is proud to be a committed and reliable global partner in advancing maritime security, promoting environmental responsibility, and ensuring fair and equitable participation in the governance of international shipping,” he added.

The event which was also graced by distinguished audience, including the Secretary-General of the IMO, Arsenio Dominguez, as well as Permanent Representatives, Alternate Permanent Representatives, diplomats, and maritime delegates from over 170 IMO Member States, which are expected to vote at the elections scheduled for November/December 2025