Nigeria accounted for over 46 per cent of total port calls in the Gulf of Guinea region in 2025, underscoring the country’s strategic importance in regional maritime trade, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has said.
The Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, disclosed this in his goodwill message at the 2026 World Maritime Day celebration, held on Friday, October 16, with a call for stronger investment in maritime infrastructure, improved operational efficiency and enhanced indigenous capacity.
Mobereola said Nigeria’s significant share of port calls reinforced the need to strengthen the systems, institutions and human capacity required to support the growing demands of the maritime sector.
Speaking on the theme of this year’s celebration, “From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence,” he said the focus should extend beyond policies and regulations to delivering measurable outcomes for Nigerians and the maritime industry.
According to him, the maritime sector remains a strategic pillar of Nigeria’s economic development, serving as a gateway to global trade, a catalyst for investment and employment, and an enabler of businesses and livelihoods across the country.
He said maritime excellence should not be measured by traffic and statistics alone but also by the safety and security of Nigerian waters, efficiency of ports and shipping operations, protection of the marine environment, welfare of seafarers and increased participation of Nigerians in maritime asset ownership and management.
The NIMASA boss noted that the true value of regulation lay in its implementation and the benefits it delivered to the economy and citizens.
He listed sustained zero piracy incidents in Nigerian waters over the past four years, Nigeria’s re-election to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council after 14 years, and the lifting of the United States’ Condition of Entry restrictions after 12 years among the notable achievements recorded in the sector.
Other milestones, he said, included the establishment of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) application portal and the ongoing process towards disbursement, full automation of the Nigerian Ship Registry and the implementation of the IMO Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) compliance audit after 18 years.
Mobereola explained that these achievements went beyond institutional milestones, noting that improved maritime security boosted confidence among vessel operators and investors, while an automated ship registry strengthened Nigeria’s participation in the global maritime system.
“This is precisely what “policy to practice” means. It means that government action must
reach beyond institutions and documents and produce tangible outcomes for people,
businesses and the wider economy, ” he said.
He added that improved seafarer training and standards would enhance the professional capacity of Nigerians and expand their opportunities in the international maritime labour market.
On maritime financing, the NIMASA director-general said access to funding could enable indigenous businesses to acquire vessels, expand operations and create employment opportunities.
He, however, warned against complacency, stressing that the gains recorded must be sustained through continuous investment, stronger inter-agency collaboration, capacity development, technological innovation and modern maritime infrastructure.
According to him, achieving maritime excellence requires collective responsibility and sustained collaboration among the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, government agencies, terminal operators, shipowners, seafarers, maritime labour organisations, financial institutions, academia, development partners and private-sector operators.
He said the Blue Economy agenda could only deliver meaningful benefits when government policies translated into tangible economic opportunities for Nigerians.
Mobereola also emphasised the need to place the welfare, safety, professional development and dignity of maritime workers at the centre of policies and operational practices.
He commended seafarers, dockworkers, port workers, ship operators, regulators, security personnel, engineers and other maritime professionals for their contributions to sustaining maritime transportation and global trade.
The NIMASA chief also acknowledged the strategic direction of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and appreciated government institutions and industry stakeholders for their contributions to the development of the sector.
He called on stakeholders to renew their commitment to building a Nigerian maritime industry that is safe, secure, efficient, sustainable and globally competitive, with strong indigenous participation.
Mobereola said Nigeria must move beyond policy formulation to implementation, ensuring that the country’s maritime potential translates into economic prosperity and improved opportunities for its people.
“As we mark this important day, let us renew our collective commitment to building a Nigerian maritime sector that is safe, secure, efficient, sustainable, globally competitive and firmly anchored on indigenous capacity.
Let us move from policy to practice. Let us move from potential to prosperity, ” he concluded.
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