Headlines
Stakeholders raise alarm over looming defeat of Nigeria at 2025 IMO Council elections
—list disturbing telltale signs
The Eyewitness Reporter
Concerned stakeholders in the maritime industry, who are well versed in global maritime matters, have expressed fears of the possible loss of Nigeria in the 2025 International Maritime Organization (IMO) council elections.
It could be recalled that Nigeria has been a serial loser in the IMO category C election which it won last in 2007.
The incumbent Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, did not allow Nigeria to participate in the 2023 election, saying this was to gain enough time and muscle for the country to prepare well for the 2025 election.However, concerned maritime industry players said they have not seen much of these so-called preparations to end the 15 years of unbroken losses at the IMO council elections.
According to them, there are tell-tell signs that signpost another possible defeat.
He however lamented that the country’s undoing has been a lack of human capacity and leadership quality to harness and drive these potentials.”Sometimes in 2023, the immediate past Secretary General of the IMO, Kitack Lim, came to Nigeria and marveled at the huge maritime potentials in the country.
However, he said that lack of the right leadership to drive these potentials has been rubbing the country of this coveted seat and will continue to elude the country if the negative narrative does not change.”Nigeria has the largest coastline in Africa. The government has invested huge resources into maritime infrastructures so much so that we provide leadership for other African countries in the maritime industry.
“This is because Nigeria has an uncanny propensity for putting square pegs in round holes” he declared.The Marine engineer, who has spent over three decades in active capacity in the maritime industry, said the sad tradition of making weak appointments into critical positions in the industry which he said has rubbed Nigeria of IMO council seat over the years has continued under the present government.
“We were all elated when Tinubu government created a special ministry to oversee the maritime industry: the Marine and Blue economy.
The concerned stakeholder said that the appointments made so far at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the two critical agencies whose operations and activities impact Nigeria’s standing in global maritime space, are nothing to write home about.”These appointments are in tandem with the tradition of making wrong choices for critical appointments which have so far spelt doom for our relevance in the international maritime industry.
It could be recalled that President Tinubu, in January 2024, made new appointments to the governing boards of the NPA and NIMASA while he also appointed a new NIMASA DG in March 2024.
However, the maritime expert faulted the appointment of the new NIMASA DG, Dr Dayo Mobereola whom he described as highly cerebral with impressive credentials but lacks cognate experience or capacity in the maritime industry.
“He would have been an ideal candidate if we have the luxury of time to wait for him to learn on the job” the maritime analyst noted.” In the same NIMASA, the newly appointed Executive Director, Operations, Fatai Adeyemi, is another greenhorn who needs to learn on the job.
”Yet he was given a critical position as ED, Operations.
“The same goes for the new Executive Director, Marine Labour and Cabotage, Jubril Abbas, who is from the banking sector.
“In NPA, the newly appointed Executive Director, Marine and Operations, Olalekan Badmus, is another learner on the job who also holds a critical position that needs expertise and depth.
The respondent said he was worried because there is not much time to start to learn and experiment on the job when the IMO council is next year.”If Jamoh, with all his many years of experience at NIMASA and maritime industry backed by Rotimi Amaechi, the Minister of Transportation who garnered eight solid years in the industry, failed to deliver the seat to Nigeria in 2021, it would be a sheer miracle for Mobereola, who will be barely one year in the saddle at the next IMO council elections, backed by the minister, who is also learning the rope, could deliver the IMO council seat” he noted.
” That is exactly what am saying.
The next council elections are expected to hold around November- December 2025.The current Council Members were elected at the IMO Assembly (27 November-6 December 2023) for the 2024-2025 biennium:
The Assembly, at its thirty-fourth session in 2025 will elect 40 Members of the Council for the 2026- 2027 session as provided for in Articles 16 and 17 of the IMO Convention.
The Council is the executive organ of IMO and is responsible, under the Assembly, for supervising the work of the Organization.
The Council is made up of 40 Member States, elected by the Assembly for two-year terms.
The Council is the executive organ of IMO and is responsible, under the Assembly, for supervising the work of the Organization.
Between sessions of the Assembly, the Council performs the functions of the Assembly, except that of making recommendations to Governments on maritime safety and pollution prevention.
The Assembly of the International Maritime Organization elected the following States to be Members of the Council for the current 2024-2025 biennium:
Category (a): 10 States with the largest interest in providing international shipping services.
These include
China, Greece, Italy, Japan, Liberia, Norway, Panama, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States
Category (b): 10 States with the largest interest in international seaborne trade: These include
Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United Arab Emirates
Category (c): 20 States not elected under (a) or (b) above, which have special interests in maritime transport or navigation and whose election to the Council will ensure the representation of all major geographic areas of the world:
These include
Bahamas, Bangladesh, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, the Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and Türkiye.
Headlines
Stakeholders hail commitment of NIMASA to welfare of Nigerian seafarers as salaries jump by 150 percent
Funso OLOJO, Editor
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has won widespread acclaim from key maritime stakeholders for its sustained commitment to improving the welfare, remuneration and professional development of Nigerian seafarers, with reforms that have increased their earning capacity by over 150 per cent.
The commendations came on Thursday, June 25th, 2026 during the 2026 Day of the Seafarer celebration in Lagos, where government officials, lawmakers and labour leaders unanimously applauded the agency’s efforts to reposition Nigerian seafarers for global competitiveness.
Leading the tributes were the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Senator Wasiu Eshilokin, Chairman of the House Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration, Khadija Bubar Abba Ibrahim, represented by her Deputy, Uduak Alphonsus Odudou and President-General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Francis Bunu Abi.
They praised NIMASA for implementing policies and programmes that have significantly improved the welfare, working conditions and international recognition of Nigerian seafarers.
Earlier, the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, highlighted the agency’s strategic interventions, revealing that over 2,459 cadets have been trained or are currently undergoing training in reputable maritime institutions across the world under the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP).
Mobereola disclosed that Nigerian seafarers’ earning capacity has risen by more than 150 per cent following NIMASA’s successful enforcement of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006 and the integration of the National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC) agreement into the International Transport Workers’ Federation/International Labour Organization (ITF/ILO) wage framework.
The development, he explained, has effectively placed Nigerian seafarers on internationally recognised wage scales and improved their conditions of service.
“At NIMASA, the welfare, safety, security and professional advancement of seafarers remain central to our maritime governance agenda.
“We recognise that protecting and empowering seafarers is not merely a regulatory obligation but a moral imperative and a strategic necessity for sustaining the growth and resilience of the maritime industry.
“In line with this commitment, the Agency has continued to champion strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing the global competitiveness of Nigerian seafarers,” Mobereola said.
He called for stronger collaboration among governments, maritime administrations, shipowners, employers, training institutions, labour unions and other industry stakeholders to build a maritime ecosystem that prioritises safety, dignity, inclusion, wellbeing and professional excellence of seafarers.
According to him, the complex risks faced by seafarers require a collective and sustained response from all stakeholders.
The NIMASA boss described the annual Day of the Seafarer celebration as more than a ceremonial event, saying it should serve as a renewed commitment to ensuring that every seafarer is respected, protected, fairly treated and empowered to realise his or her full potential.
He paid glowing tribute to seafarers for their invaluable contributions to global commerce despite the enormous challenges they confront at sea.
“Beyond transporting cargo, seafarers navigate unpredictable weather conditions, demanding working environments, evolving security threats and increasing geopolitical realities.
“They endure prolonged separation from their families and loved ones while coping with the physical and psychological demands inherent in life at sea.
“Yet they continue to demonstrate exceptional resilience, professionalism and unwavering commitment,” he said.
Addressing Nigerian seafarers and their counterparts across the world, Mobereola added:
“You are not only the backbone of global trade but also proud ambassadors of our maritime nation. Your contributions continue to strengthen the maritime sector, support economic growth and enhance Nigeria’s standing within the international maritime community.”
Headlines
FG to Shipping Firms: End abuse of Nigerian Seafarers now or face consequences
— as Oyetola vows zero tolerance for poor welfare of seafarers , unveils national carrier plan to boost jobs, sea-time training
Funso OLOJO, Editor
The Federal Government has issued a stern warning to shipping companies, crewing agencies and shipowners against the maltreatment of Nigerian seafarers, declaring that any practice that undermines their welfare, safety and dignity will no longer be tolerated.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, delivered the warning at the 2026 Day of the Seafarer celebration held in Lagos on Thursday, June 25th,2026, where he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting Nigerian seafarers and improving their welfare.
The event, themed “Carrying World Trade, Carrying the Risk,” drew key stakeholders from across the maritime industry, including heads of maritime agencies, members of the National Assembly, shipping companies, crewing agencies, ministry officials, maritime labour unions and seafarers.
Speaking through the Director of Maritime Safety and Security in the Ministry, Mr. Makoji Musa, Oyetola said the era of neglecting Nigerian seafarers must come to an end.
“Let me send a clear message to all shipping companies, crewing agencies and employers of seafarers.
“Our seafarers must be treated with dignity, fairness and respect at all times.
“The era of neglecting the welfare of seafarers, denying them their legitimate entitlements, or subjecting them to unacceptable working conditions must come to an end.
“The well-being of our maritime workforce is non-negotiable,” the minister declared.
Oyetola described seafarers as the backbone of global commerce, noting that they facilitate over 85 per cent of world trade despite operating under difficult and often hazardous conditions.
“Behind every successful voyage lies a story of commitment, endurance and sacrifice,” he said.
“Seafarers spend long periods away from their families, work under demanding conditions and navigate increasingly complex operational and security challenges.
“Their profession requires not only technical competence but also courage, discipline and exceptional resilience.”
He stressed that celebrating seafarers should go beyond ceremonial speeches and translate into concrete actions that improve their working conditions, strengthen safety standards and safeguard their rights.
The Minister reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to advancing maritime safety, security and decent work through reforms targeted at improving maritime education and training, raising certification standards, expanding employment opportunities for Nigerian seafarers and ensuring full compliance with international maritime conventions.
In a major policy announcement, Oyetola disclosed that the Ministry is in the final stages of establishing a national shipping carrier under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
According to him, the initiative is designed to reduce the country’s dependence on foreign shipping lines, curb capital flight, strengthen indigenous shipping capacity and, crucially, create more employment opportunities for Nigerian seafarers.
He explained that the proposed national carrier would also address one of the biggest challenges confronting Nigerian cadets by providing adequate sea-time training required for international certification and employment.
“The Ministry is finalizing plans to establish a national shipping carrier through a Public-Private Partnership arrangement.
“This strategic initiative will help stem the enormous capital flight associated with the dominance of foreign shipping lines, enhance Nigeria’s participation in international maritime trade and strengthen our national shipping capacity.
“Importantly, the initiative will create new opportunities for Nigerian seafarers by expanding sea-time placements, increasing employment prospects, developing local maritime expertise and providing a sustainable platform for career advancement,” Oyetola said.
The Minister maintained that protecting the welfare and rights of seafarers remains central to the Federal Government’s vision of building a globally competitive maritime sector and unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s blue economy.
Headlines
PTML unveils $50m expansion plan as Oyetola reaffirms Nigeria’s maritime hub ambition
Funso OLOJO, Editor
Port and Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) has unveiled a fresh $50 million investment plan to expand its terminal operations in Lagos, in a major private-sector vote of confidence in Nigeria’s drive to become the leading maritime hub in West and Central Africa.
The Managing Director of PTML, Mr. Ascanio Russo, disclosed the planned investment on Tuesday, June 23rd, 2026 during a visit to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, in Abuja.
Russo said the proposed investment, to be executed by PTML– a member of the Grimaldi Group — will focus on expanding the terminal’s berthing capacity and acquiring additional modern port equipment at the Tin Can Island Port Complex in Lagos.
According to him, the expansion is aimed at strengthening port infrastructure, improving cargo-handling efficiency and positioning PTML to handle the next generation of Container/Roll-on Roll-off (Con-Ro) vessels, including some of the largest currently operating in global shipping.
“The Grimaldi Group remains deeply committed to Nigeria and firmly believes in the country’s potential as the leading maritime and logistics gateway in West and Central Africa,” Russo said.
He noted that the planned $50 million injection is designed to prepare PTML for the future by boosting operational efficiency, cargo throughput and service delivery.
Russo explained that the new berthing facilities would enable PTML to receive larger and more advanced Con-Ro vessels directly at the Lagos terminal, a development he said would keep Nigeria competitive in the rapidly changing global shipping environment.
“The maritime industry is evolving rapidly, with larger and more efficient vessels becoming the standard for international trade.
“Through this expansion, PTML will be fully equipped to accommodate these next-generation Con-Ro vessels, ensuring that Nigeria remains competitive and attractive to global shipping lines,” he said.
He described the project as a direct response to the Federal Government’s push for stronger private-sector participation and international partnerships in the modernisation of Nigeria’s port infrastructure.
Beyond its operational impact, Russo said the investment is expected to boost trade volumes, increase cargo throughput, create jobs during construction and operations, and generate more revenue for government through expanded port activities.
Responding, Oyetola welcomed the proposed investment, describing it as a strong endorsement of the Federal Government’s ongoing reforms in the maritime sector.
The Minister reaffirmed government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for private capital and transforming Nigerian ports into the preferred hub for shipping, logistics and maritime services in the sub-region.
“This investment is a clear demonstration that our reforms are yielding results and that international investors recognise the vast opportunities in Nigeria’s maritime sector,” Oyetola said.
He added that the Federal Government remains focused on building modern, efficient and globally competitive ports capable of driving trade, supporting economic growth and cementing Nigeria’s status as the maritime gateway to West and Central Africa.
Oyetola said current government efforts are targeted at improving port efficiency, eliminating operational bottlenecks, strengthening infrastructure, deepening digitalisation and enhancing ease of doing business across the nation’s ports.
He listed port modernisation initiatives, closer collaboration with terminal operators, and policies aimed at attracting higher cargo volumes among key measures being pursued to reposition the sector.
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