Kunle Kalejaye
Leeds, England — The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dayo Mobereola, has described Nigeria’s election into the Category C Council of the International Maritime Organisation, IMO, as a victory for the maritime industry and Nigeria.
Mobereola stated this at a surprise reception by members of staff of NIMASA to commemorate the victory.
The reception, which was held in the Agency’s boardroom and attended by the Director General , DG, Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Mr Chudi Offodile; Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Mr Jibril Abba; Directors and other members of staff, was to celebrate Nigeria’s return to the IMO Council where NIMASA is the focal Agency.
Speaking to staff members during the gathering, Dr. Mobereola described the victory as an important one for the maritime industry and Nigeria emphasising that it took the unflinching support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the dynamic leadership of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, to bring the victory to fruition.
According to him, “the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the dynamic leadership of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy were very instrumental to the nation’s victory. Throughout the process, the Minister remained committed, providing strategic direction to all parties involved and personally leading the charge in engaging and canvassing support from other member states”.
The Director General also commended staff for their invaluable contributions saying “as staff of NIMASA, you all have contributed in one way or the other, whether big or small to Nigeria’s victory at IMO. You know NIMASA is the focal point for the IMO in Nigeria so the work you all do every day has been instrumental to our victory.”
He further charged staff of the Agency to redouble their efforts observing that “winning the Category C Council seat is the easier part. The most difficult part is sustainability. It’s relatively easy to get to the top but staying at the top is more difficult. We must ensure that we stay there. And to stay there, we request and we require and we need the support of every single member of staff of this Agency.”
It will be recalled that Nigeria was elected into the Category C Council of the IMO recently for 2026 – 2027 biennium after a 14 year wait.
