By Adedapo Adesanya
The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has commended the efforts being made by the Nigerian authorities to maintain the safety and security of commercial shipping in the Gulf of Guinea, evidenced by the increased shipping traffic around the Red Sea region.
The Gulf of Guinea is a large gulf off the Western coast of Africa, forming part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is crucial to Nigeria’s oil production and export activities. Apart from Nigeria, it extends to several countries like Gabon, Liberia, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Cameroon, and Equatorial Guinea, among others.
The Secretary-General of the organisation, Mr Arsenio Dominguez, at a meeting with the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr Dayo Mobereola, in London, also said the situation in the Red Sea has led to heavier shipping traffic in the region.
He praised NIMASA for engaging the technical team at the IMO on how Nigeria can address all identified gaps from the 2016 audit conducted by the organisation.
“I want to appreciate the effort of Nigeria on the progress made so far as regards security in the Gulf of Guinea region. There were concerns due to the situation in the Red Sea and resultant pressure around the Gulf of Guinea but we are pleased that the situation has remained the same. We at IMO have been working with Nigeria through NIMASA and we desire that the partnership continues.
“I am also happy that you, DG, are meeting with IMO technical staff on how to close all identified gaps before the next audit cycle. This is a step in the right direction, and we are ready to give any technical support,” he stated.
The IMO scribe also announced that the Organization is working on enhancing the Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS) to provide better services to member states in terms of information management.
On his part, Mr Mobereola reiterated that his administration will pay attention to details on how Nigeria can become a voice to be reckoned with in global maritime diplomacy, adding that Nigeria is committed to sustaining the momentum of recent achievements in safety and security within the maritime domain.
“My tenure will leverage existing relationships both locally and internationally to sustain the momentum in safety and security within the Nigerian maritime domain. The creation of the Marine and Blue Economy Ministry in Nigeria by Mr. President emphasizes the policy direction of this administration.
“Our goal is to ensure that Nigeria plays an active leading role not just in the region or the IMO, but in the global maritime space,” he disclosed.
The NIMASA DG explained that his meeting with the IMO technical staff was aimed at ensuring that NIMASA and the IMO are aligned before the next audit cycle.
“I discovered today that some critical information regarding our administration and the technical team at the IMO is obsolete, and we are reviewing it to update it immediately. We do not see the IMO audit as an examination but rather as a guide to assist Nigeria in achieving its potential; hence, my decision to get personally involved. We need to get the basics right,” he noted.
The NIMASA helmsman also announced that the federal government has constituted a committee to address all areas of concern raised in the 2016 IMO audit report, adding that this includes reviewing NIMASA’s enabling laws and effectively implementing a corrective action plan.
Modupe Gbadeyanka