The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation (TASAC) on Monday in Lagos, opened discussions for knowledge sharing, in order to deepen their operational capacities in the maritime industry.
Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, welcomed the visiting TASAC delegation led by the Director General, Mr. Mohammed Salumu, who was represented by the Mrs. Leticia Mutaki, the Director of Maritime Safety, Security and Environmental Protection.
Speaking on their mission to NIMASA, Mutaki said that the delegation was visiting to draw from the wealth of NIMASA’s capacity in maritime administration as well as to offer its support to Nigeria’s bid for the Category C seat at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), which Nigeria is contesting.
Her words: “We believe Nigeria’s position on the IMO Council is vital for the region and the continent at large. Tanzania will continue to support this ambition.”
She also said that the delegation was in NIMASA not just guests, but as people who have come with a shared vision for greater mutually-benefiting achievement.
“We are here therefore not just as guests, but as partners with a shared vision for a robust, innovative, and well-governed maritime sector in Africa,” she said.
She added that TASAC was particularly interested in learning about Nigeria’s approach to port and flag state control, ship registry processes, maritime training structures, and how NIMASA sustains its operations financially.
“Your Deep Blue security framework is impressive, and your investments in human capacity development are commendable. Tanzania is keen to learn from your systems, especially in areas of certification, flag state inspections, and seafarer welfare,” she said.
The TASAC DG said the five-day visit to NIMASA means the establishment of an important technical alliance, while giving assurances of TASAC’s preparedness to share best practices from its own regulatory environment to support mutual growth.
In his welcome speech, Dr Mobereola, said that the visit was beyond ceremonial diplomacy, because it serves as a foundation for structured, continent-wide maritime engagement.
His words: “This study visit represents a valuable opportunity for our agencies to share expertise, best practices, and innovative solutions to common maritime challenges. We are not only here to share what we’ve achieved, but also to learn from TASAC. We view this as a mutually beneficial partnership.”
He said that the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, had endorsed the initiative, citing similarities in policy direction and a shared commitment to unlocking Africa’s blue economy potential.
According to the NIMASA DG, the areas of collaboration include oversight mechanisms, flag and port state control, ship registration, oil pollution compensation systems, seafarer training and certification, financial sustainability in maritime administration, and digital transformation.
He cited the Deep Blue project as one of NIMASA’s key successes in tackling maritime insecurity but stressed that such efforts must be complemented by regional cooperation.
“Our Deep Blue project has helped enhance security in Nigeria’s waters, but maritime threats are transnational and require collective approaches. This collaboration is timely,” he said.
He also expressed NIMASA’s readiness to finalise a Memorandum of Understanding with TASAC, which is currently being reviewed by NIMASA’s legal and technical teams.
Mobereola emphasised the importance of the partnership in advancing Africa’s unified voice on the global maritime stage, especially at international bodies such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO).
“African maritime administrations must begin to coordinate their positions on critical issues such as market-based measures for the green transition. “We must also explore comparative advantages in maritime energy and alternative fuels.”
He expressed confidence that the continent could develop a stronger capacity for seafarer supply through coordinated training programmes, and create jobs for Africa’s growing youth population.
