Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to securing a seat in Category C of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council, as it took its campaign to an international maritime and aviation symposium in Singapore.
Representing Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, the Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, highlighted Nigeria’s drive to modernize its maritime infrastructure to build a more sustainable, secure, and investment-driven sector.
Speaking at the high-level gathering, Oyebamiji stressed the strategic importance of Nigeria’s maritime resources, adding that the country’s IMO Category C bid is central to its vision of shaping global maritime policies.
“The IMO seat will empower Nigeria to influence the global maritime ecosystem and position the country as a major stakeholder in shaping international maritime policies, especially in the West African sub-region,” he said.
The symposium, which centered on “Job Creation and Economic Growth in Nigeria’s Maritime and Aviation Sectors,” provided a platform for NIWA to showcase key projects aimed at unlocking the blue economy.
Oyebamiji described Nigeria’s coastal waters as an “untapped goldmine” with immense potential for job creation, economic diversification, and foreign investment. He emphasized that gaining a seat at the IMO would enhance Nigeria’s capacity to promote regional security, compliance with international standards, and sustainable maritime development.
Nigeria last held a Category C seat on the IMO Council in 2019 and is now intensifying diplomatic and technical efforts to return to the council ahead of the upcoming elections.
