Nigeria Seeks Return To International Maritime Organization

The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr Dakuku Peterside has announced Nigeria’s quest to return to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) council.

Peterside, who disclosed this at a dinner hosted in honour of a delegation from Nigeria at the IMO headquarters, noted that Nigeria has done enough to merit a return to the council.

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“Nigerian is willing and prepared to play more regional and international roles to the global maritime community but that would only be possible with your support. Let Nigeria contribute from within Council to the growth of the maritime sector globally. Let us contribute significantly to the work of the IMO,” he said.

The NIMASA DG however noted that Nigeria is a beneficiary of IMO technical support, saying the issue of the Anti Piracy Act in Nigeria took firm root from the support provided by the organisation.

He also disclosed that Nigeria has ratified 40 IMO Conventions and domesticated 19 with plans to ratify and domesticate 6 more in the very near future, adding that Nigeria topped the chart on Port and Flag State Administration in West and Central Africa sub-region.

Speaking on the Global Maritime security conference scheduled for Abuja in October, Peterside said over 70 countries have so far indicated interest to be part of the conference which is to provide both short and long term solutions to the security issues in the region.

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“To further address the issue of insecurity in the region’s maritime domain, Nigeria will host the 2019 Global Maritime Security Conference from the 7th to 9th of October in Abuja. With 12 thematic sessions, it is our hope that the conference will rise with the ‘ABUJA DECLARATION’ on ending insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea,” he said.

Assistant secretary-general of the IMO Dr Lawrence Barchua in his speech on behalf of the Council, noted that the Member State Audit report on Nigeria shows that the country has what it takes to be a leading maritime nation.

The dinner also had the Chairman, House Committee on Maritime Safety Education and Administration, Honourable Linda Ikpeazu, and Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, George Oguntade, in attendance.

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