Zero piracy, IMO seat drive maritime sector, says NIMASA

The country’s maritime sector closed 2025 on a strong footing, buoyed by a full year without piracy incidents, fresh international treaty commitments and Nigeria’s election into the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council, Category C, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has said.

Its Director-General Dr. Dayo Mobereola, in a statement signed by the Deputy Director and Head of Public Relations, Osagie Edward, said the achievements underscored growing investor confidence, operational stability and stronger global positioning for the maritime industry, as he felicitated with industry stakeholders during the yuletide.

Speaking on the sector’s performance, Mobereola described 2025 as a productive year for maritime business and regulation, while assuring operators that the agency would intensify efforts to deliver even better outcomes in 2026.

Enumerating the year’s highlights, the NIMASA boss underlined the sustained zero-tolerance regime against piracy in Nigerian waters, the deposition of three Instruments of Accession to IMO conventions signed by President Bola Tinubu, improved industrial harmony across the sector and Nigeria’s successful election into the IMO Council.

“The year 2025 has been a good one for our industry as once again, we have not recorded a single piracy attack in our waters in a whole calendar year, Nigeria was also able to deposit three Instruments of Accession to IMO Conventions that were signed by President Bola Tinubu GCFR, we have been able to maintain industrial harmony in the sector all of which culminated to Nigeria’s election into the category C Council of the International Maritime Organisation,” Mobereola said.

He noted that these gains were critical to strengthening the nation’s maritime business environment, improving safety and lowering risk premiums for shipping, offshore operations and port-related investments.

Acknowledging the role of operators, unions and other partners, Mobereola stressed that stakeholder collaboration was central to the sector’s stability and growth.

“We couldn’t have done this without our stakeholders who have contributed in various ways in the course of their operations during the year. We see you, we thank you and we felicitate with your during this yuletide season,” he said.

Looking ahead, the NIMASA chief urged industry players to approach 2026 with renewed optimism, noting that Nigeria’s election into the IMO Council came with higher global expectations and responsibilities.

“At NIMASA, we appreciate the weight of our renewed responsibility by virtue of Nigeria’s membership of the IMO Council because to whom much is given, much is definitely expected. You can therefore be sure of an increased momentum in our resolve to sustain maritime safety, security, environmental protection and adherence to relevant conventions and protocols with renewed vigour,” Mobereola said.

He concluded by acknowledging the support of the President, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, industry stakeholders, as well as NIMASA’s management and staff, while wishing Nigerians a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.