Nigeria’s campaign for a seat on the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council under Category C has entered a new, high-profile phase in New York, as the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, formally addressed Permanent Representatives of African nations to the United Nations at a reception in Nigeria House on Wednesday 10 September 2025.
Having officially flagged off the campaign in London on 18th June at the IMO Headquarters, the New York event forms part of a sustained diplomatic engagement to mobilise support ahead of the Council elections scheduled for later this year.
Delivering a speech imbued with maritime vision and national resolve, Minister Oyetola thanked the UN envoys for attending the reception held ahead of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, and extended the warm greetings of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. He emphasised that Nigeria’s candidature was more than an ambition: it is a solemn pledge of partnership with the international community.
Minister Oyetola pointed to Nigeria’s extensive maritime endowments, which include 853 kilometres of coastline, over 10,000 kilometres of inland waterways, and a large Exclusive Economic Zone, as well as the country’s strategic location on the Gulf of Guinea, a corridor of vital commercial significance. He also reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to the IMO’s core mandate of safe, secure, environmentally responsible, efficient and sustainable shipping.
The Minister drew attention to Nigeria’s track record of action, especially the transformative Deep Blue Project under the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), which has coordinated air, land and sea assets to enhance maritime security. He highlighted that for three consecutive years Nigeria has recorded zero piracy incidents in its waters, while piracy in the broader Gulf of Guinea has dropped sharply – achievements which he said have restored confidence among international shipping stakeholders and affirmed Nigeria’s role as a guarantor of maritime safety.
He said, “In recent years, we have transformed the maritime security architecture of our region. Through the landmark Deep Blue Project, we have established a multi-layered, integrated maritime security framework, coordinating air, land, and sea assets under the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). The results speak for themselves: for three consecutive years, Nigeria has recorded zero piracy incidents on its waters, while incidents in the Gulf of Guinea have drastically reduced, restoring confidence for international shipping and underscoring Nigeria’s role as a guarantor of maritime safety.
“Our ports serve as critical gateways for trade in West and Central Africa, while our shipping industry remains one of the largest in sub-Saharan Africa. With a renewed national focus on the blue economy and robust institutional reforms, Nigeria is repositioning itself as a regional maritime powerhouse and a dependable global partner in shaping the future of international shipping.”
The Minister underscored Nigeria’s renewed institutional reforms and growing blue economy agenda. He explained that Nigeria has ratified and domesticated key IMO conventions and is actively working to accede to additional instruments addressing greenhouse gas emissions, biofouling, and maritime labour rights. Compliance with regulations on emissions, pollution control, and sustainable port operations are central to this alignment with global norms.
He also reaffirmed Nigeria’s strong commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14, which concerns the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas and marine resources, and to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
“Nigeria has signed the Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) and has already commenced its ratification process. Demonstrating regional leadership, Nigeria has also spearheaded efforts among West African nations, validating a regional roadmap for the development of a proposal to designate a High Seas Marine Protected Area in the Convergence Zone of the Canary and Guinea Currents.
“Nigeria envisions an IMO that is representative, inclusive, and forward-looking. With a population exceeding 240 million — of whom nearly 60 per cent are under 19 years old — Nigeria stands as both a regional maritime leader and a partner for the future. We are making sustained investments in maritime education, capacity-building, and skills transfer. We are also committed to gender inclusivity, fostering the participation of women as seafarers, port operators, and maritime leaders — because global progress must rest on shared opportunity,” Oyetola said.
Nigeria’s campaign, according to Oyetola, is grounded in reciprocity and solidarity. The strategy seeks bilateral and multilateral bridging, with Nigeria sharing technical assistance and expertise with other developing states, particularly within Africa, Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries.
The Minister asserted that a vote for Nigeria would be a vote for responsible leadership, inclusivity, and balanced, collaborative progress in maritime governance.
He urged the envoys to support Nigeria as part of efforts to shape a maritime order that is safer, greener, more resilient and more inclusive; to safeguard trade, protect the planet, and uplift people.
