Nigeria Dominates Gulf of Guinea Port Calls With 46% Share—NIMASA DG

By Adedapo Adesanya

Nigeria accounted for over 46 per cent of total port calls in the Gulf of Guinea in 2025, the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr Dayo Mobereola, has said.

He disclosed this in his goodwill message to mark the 2026 World Maritime Day celebration, noting that the volume of maritime activity recorded by Nigeria reinforced the need to strengthen the institutions, infrastructure and human capacity required to sustain the country’s position in the regional maritime industry.

He described the maritime sector as a strategic pillar of national economic development, serving as a gateway to global trade, a catalyst for investment and employment, and a critical enabler of businesses and industries across the country.

According to him, the theme of the 2026 celebration, From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence, highlights the need to move beyond policy formulation to effective implementation and measurable economic outcomes.

“It challenges us to look beyond policies, regulations and institutional frameworks and ask a more important question: What difference are these measures making in the lives of our people and in the performance of our maritime industry?”

The NIMASA chief said maritime excellence should not be measured by traffic figures and statistics alone but also by the safety and security of Nigerian waters, port efficiency, protection of the marine environment and the welfare of seafarers.

He added that the extent to which Nigerians participate in the ownership, operation and management of maritime assets was equally important in assessing the industry’s progress.

“At NIMASA, we believe that the true value of regulation lies in its implementation and in the outcomes it produces,” Mr Mobereola said.

“Policies must create safer seas. Regulations must promote efficient operations. Standards must strengthen professionalism. Investments in technology and infrastructure must improve productivity. And the growth of the maritime sector must translate into greater opportunities for Nigerians.”

Highlighting achievements recorded in the sector over the past two years, Mr Mobereola listed four consecutive years without piracy incidents in Nigerian waters, Nigeria’s re-election to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council after a 14-year absence, and the lifting of United States Condition of Entry restrictions after 12 years.

Other milestones included the establishment of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) application portal and the ongoing process towards disbursement, the full automation of the Nigerian Ship Registry and the implementation of the IMO Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Compliance Audit after 18 years.

He said the achievements should be measured by their impact on operators, investors, businesses and maritime workers rather than treated merely as institutional milestones.

“A safer maritime environment is more than a security statistic. It means greater confidence for vessels, operators, workers and investors,” he said.

Mr Mobereola explained that automation of the ship registry would strengthen Nigeria’s participation in the global maritime system and make the country’s flag more attractive to shipowners.

He added that improved standards for seafarers would enhance the professional capacity of Nigerians and expand their opportunities in the international maritime labour market.

On maritime financing, the NIMASA director-general said access to funding could enable indigenous operators to acquire vessels, expand their businesses and create employment.

“And access to maritime financing is more than a financial intervention. It can help Nigerian businesses acquire assets, expand operations and create jobs,” he stated.

He, however, warned against complacency, urging sustained investment, stronger inter-agency collaboration, continuous capacity development, technological innovation and the development of modern maritime infrastructure to consolidate the gains recorded.

According to him, achieving maritime excellence requires collaboration among the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, government agencies, terminal operators, shipowners, seafarers, maritime labour unions, financial institutions, academia, development partners and private-sector operators.

“The responsibility for achieving maritime excellence does not rest with Government alone. It requires a strong and enduring partnership,” he said.

Looking ahead, Mr Mobereola called for deliberate efforts to ensure that Nigeria’s maritime potential translated into tangible economic benefits for citizens, particularly through greater indigenous participation and improved opportunities across the maritime value chain.

“As we look ahead, the task is clear. We must move beyond policies on paper and ensure that Nigeria’s vast maritime potential is translated into real economic value for our people,” he said.

Mr Mobereola urged stakeholders to renew their commitment to building a maritime sector that is safe, secure, efficient, sustainable and globally competitive, with a strong foundation in indigenous capacity.

“Let us move from policy to practice. Let us move from potential to prosperity,” he said.