Again, Nigeria loses bid for IMO Council seat

Nigeria, on Friday again lost its bid for election into the Category C of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council.

The IMO Council is the decision- making body of the United Nations specialised agency responsible for regulating the global maritime industry.

This is the fifth consecutive time Nigeria is losing its quest to get elected into the IMO Council. Nigeria contested and lost the Council seat bid in 2011, 2013, 2017 and 2019.

The last time Nigeria won the IMO Council election was in 2009 under Temisan Omatseye, who was then the Director General of NIMASA.

The Assembly of the IMO announced on Friday that it has elected 40 members of its Council for the 2022-2023 biennium.

Nigeria contested in the election which was held in London at the IMO Headquarters on Friday for the Category C seat in the council, reserved for 20 countries not elected in categories A and B.

The countries in Category C have special interests in maritime transport or navigation and they represent all major geographic areas of the world.

20 countries elected under Category C were Bahamas, Belgium, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, the Philippines, Singapore, Qater, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Turkey and Vanuatu.

Nigeria including Kuwait, Peru, South Africa all lost their bids to get re-elected into the Council.

Under Category B, made of countries with largest interest in international seaborne trade are Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United Arab Emirates were elected.

Elected into Category A, which consist of countries with the largest interest in international shipping services are China, Greece, Italy, Japan, Norway, Panama, Republic of Korea, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The newly elected Council will meet, following the conclusion of the 32^nd Assembly for its 126^th session on 15^th December and will elect its Chair and Vice Chair for the next biennium.