Nigeria has officially launched its campaign for election into Category C of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council for the 2026–2027 biennium. The campaign was unveiled in New York at a high-level reception hosted at Nigeria House on the sidelines of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, led Nigeria’s delegation and presented the country’s bid to diplomats and representatives of IMO Member States. He emphasized that Nigeria’s candidacy was not merely aspirational but a solemn pledge of responsible leadership, inclusivity, and stronger contributions to global maritime governance.
Oyetola appealed for member states’ support, stressing that a vote for Nigeria would reinforce regional cooperation and balanced decision-making within the IMO. He highlighted Nigeria’s maritime potential, which includes 853 kilometres of coastline, 10,000 kilometres of inland waterways, and a vast Exclusive Economic Zone, describing the country as a strategic maritime nation positioned on the Gulf of Guinea, a corridor of immense commercial importance to global trade.
The minister pointed to Nigeria’s major strides in maritime security, particularly the Deep Blue Project, which established an integrated air, land, and sea security framework under the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). According to him, the initiative has delivered impressive results, with Nigeria recording zero piracy incidents in its waters for three consecutive years and a drastic reduction of piracy across the Gulf of Guinea.
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“Nigeria’s record demonstrates this resolve. Through the landmark Deep Blue Project, we established a multi-layered maritime security architecture, coordinating air, land, and sea assets under NIMASA. The results speak for themselves: zero piracy in Nigerian waters for three years and restored global confidence in shipping across the Gulf of Guinea,” Oyetola stated.
He further underlined the critical role of Nigerian ports as gateways for trade in West and Central Africa and noted that the nation’s shipping industry remains one of the largest in sub-Saharan Africa.
With the campaign now underway, Nigeria is positioning itself as a key player in global maritime governance, leveraging its security gains, vast resources, and strategic location to rally support for its election to the IMO Council.
