INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION’S SECRETARY-GENERAL COMMENDS NIGERIA’S MARITIME SECURITY AND DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS

opeolumartinOctober 4, 2025October 4, 202503 mins

Lagos, Nigeria — October 4, 2025

The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Mr. Arsenio Domínguez, has praised Nigeria for its significant strides in maritime security, safety infrastructure, and capacity building, as he continued his official three-day working visit to the country.

Accompanied by Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, the IMO chief undertook a comprehensive tour of key maritime establishments in Lagos, further underscoring Nigeria’s strategic role in regional and global maritime affairs.
One of the highlights of the visit was the inspection of the Nigerian Navy’s hydrographic research vessel, NNS Lana, berthed in Apapa. Domínguez commended the Navy’s investment in cutting-edge hydrographic technology, stating that such efforts not only enhance maritime safety but also facilitate international shipping and trade through improved navigational charts and surveys.

The Secretary-General also visited the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) facilities at Kirikiri, including the C4i Centre and the Regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (RMRCC). He praised Nigeria’s proactive leadership in securing the Gulf of Guinea—a region historically plagued by maritime threats—and emphasized the importance of maintaining robust safety frameworks to support international maritime cooperation and commerce.

As part of his engagements, Domínguez visited the Institute of Maritime Studies (IMS) at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), where he toured classrooms, simulators, and training facilities, and engaged with maritime students. The visit highlighted the country’s commitment to developing a skilled maritime workforce to meet the evolving demands of the global blue economy.
Speaking during the event, Minister Oyetola lauded UNILAG’s contributions to maritime education and reiterated the federal government’s resolve to reposition Nigeria’s marine and blue economy as a key pillar of national revenue generation, moving beyond oil dependence.

The IMO Secretary-General’s visit marks a renewed recognition of Nigeria’s growing influence in global maritime affairs and the country’s ongoing efforts to enhance its maritime domain for economic and security gains.