Maritime Stakeholders Hail NIMASA DG’s Reform Drive, Seek Faster Economic Gains

Stakeholders in the nation’s maritime sector have applauded the director general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) over sweeping reforms embarked upon in the Agency in the last two years.

Speaking to LEADERSHIP, they applauded the NIMASA DG for repositioning Nigeria’s maritime sector, despite lingering challenges such as high war risk insurance premiums and slow economic impact.

LEADERSHIP reports that Dr Mobereola took over the agency in March 2024 at a time the sector was grappling with training backlogs, regulatory gaps and an international reputation weakened by security concerns and punitive insurance costs on vessels calling at Nigerian ports.

The experts argued that under the NIMASA DG, he cleared longstanding sea-time training delays under the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme, addressing frustrations among aspiring maritime professionals.

However, industry observers say the agency has since charted a reform-driven course focused on capacity development, digital transformation, regulatory enforcement and strategic international engagement.
Clearing Seafarer Backlogs, Strengthening Certification

According to the head of Research at the Sea Empowerment and Research Centre (SEREC), Eugene Nweke, noted that high international war risk insurance premiums remain, indicating that global confidence recovery is incomplete.

“Several flagship initiatives remain at transitional or rollout stages; measurable economic outcomes are yet to fully materialise,” he said, describing Mobereola’s tenure as reform-oriented and institution-focused but dependent on sustained implementation.

A clearing agent, Timothy Michael, urged the agency to ensure adequate employment and remuneration for trained cadets to encourage youth participation in maritime careers.

Similarly, maritime analyst Ejiogwu Ilechukwu called for more proactive international collaboration to eliminate war risk insurance premiums rather than relying solely on advocacy.

The President of the Nigerian Indigenous Shipowners Association (NISA), Mr Sola Adewunmi, commended NIMASA’s achievements, particularly Nigeria’s return to the IMO Council and the revitalisation of the CVFF. However, he urged the agency to focus more on its core regulatory mandate rather than revenue generation.

“It is still difficult to rate him, but I will give him about 65 to 70 per cent,” Adewunmi said, stressing the need to improve the business environment as maritime activities gradually decline.”

LEADERSHIP reports that the agency deployed technology to verify Certificates of Competency, streamlining licensing processes to align with international standards on training, certification and watchkeeping for seafarers.

Internally, NIMASA introduced staff welfare initiatives, structured training programmes, performance-based promotions and reward systems aimed at strengthening institutional efficiency.

Also, one of the administration’s defining achievements was Nigeria’s election into Category C of the International Maritime Organisation Council for the 2026–2027 biennium. The election, secured in late 2025 during the IMO General Assembly in London, marked Nigeria’s return to the Council after years of absence. The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, led diplomatic engagements that culminated in the victory.

Stakeholders attribute the success partly to improved maritime security architecture in the Gulf of Guinea, which has helped restore international confidence. The Federal Government launched a Maritime Labour e-Platform during the Day of the Seafarer celebration in Port Harcourt.

The digital platform integrates registration and verification of seafarers, dockworkers, employers and other stakeholders, issuing secure biometric identity cards to reduce paperwork and enhance real-time data access. The initiative aligns with the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 and fulfils NIMASA’s statutory mandate under the NIMASA Act 2007.