The Maritime Anti-Corruption Network has commended reforms being implemented by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, saying the measures have contributed to improving transparency and the business environment within Nigeria’s maritime industry.
MACN Chief Executive Officer Cecelia Torbrand made the remarks during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the organisation to NIMASA in Lagos.
Torbrand said continued cooperation between government agencies, industry operators, civil society organisations and other stakeholders would be necessary to sustain improvements across the maritime sector.
She explained that MACN’s approach is built around capability development, collective action and collaboration aimed at strengthening integrity and addressing corruption risks within maritime operations.
Nigerian Reforms Attract Regional Attention
Chief Executive Officer of the Convention on Business Integrity and MACN member Olusoji Apampa said reforms being implemented in Nigeria deserved greater visibility.
According to him, the changes have attracted interest elsewhere in West Africa, with Ghana and Senegal developing mechanisms inspired by aspects of Nigeria’s experience.
The observation is significant because corruption risks and administrative bottlenecks around vessel clearance, inspections and other port processes can increase the cost of maritime trade.
Reducing unnecessary human interaction, improving documentation and establishing clearer procedures can therefore have implications for both transparency and operational efficiency.
NIMASA Plans Body Cameras for Enforcement Officers
Responding to the MACN delegation, NIMASA Director-General Dayo Mobereola, represented by Executive Director of Operations Fatai Adeyemi, said reliable data would be important in demonstrating the impact of reforms.
“Data is essential to show the progress being made in the maritime sector,” Mobereola said, adding that the agency needs to demonstrate its activities and their impact.
NIMASA also disclosed that it is working to introduce body cameras for officers boarding vessels during enforcement operations.
The initiative is intended to increase accountability during interactions between NIMASA enforcement personnel and maritime operators.
Body-worn cameras could provide records of inspections and enforcement encounters, creating an additional mechanism for reviewing disputes or allegations arising during operations.
Transparency Linked to Maritime Competitiveness
Mobereola attributed progress in the sector to support from the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy under Minister Adegboyega Oyetola.
He also called for successful reforms to be replicated across maritime administrations in the region, arguing that greater transparency could improve opportunities for businesses and strengthen regional competitiveness.
The MACN engagement comes as Nigeria attempts to strengthen its standing in international maritime trade.
The recent decision by the United States Coast Guard to remove the 12-year Condition of Entry imposed on vessels arriving from Nigerian ports has provided another indication of changes in international assessments of the country’s maritime-security environment. The US Coast Guard said its decision followed a determination that Nigeria was maintaining effective anti-terrorism measures at its ports.
For NIMASA, sustaining that progress will require reforms to translate into measurable improvements in enforcement, regulatory predictability and interactions between officials and maritime operators.
The agency said it remains committed to developing systems that promote transparency and integrity in Nigeria’s maritime business environment.
