BY SHOLA FADEYI
Undoubtedly, the forward looking measures which the Dr Dayo Mobereola- led management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has been adopting since it got into the saddle less than one and a half years ago, have lent credence to the consensus in the Maritime Sector, that its policies have been making positive impact on the economy.
The management has since then succeeded in boosting NIMASA’s global profile among maritime nations, facilitated Nigeria’s signing of International Maritime Organization (IMO) instruments of accession, strengthened Maritime Safety by synergizing with security agencies, like the NDLEA, to combat illicit activities on Nigerian waters, and collaborated with the Nigerian Armed forces through the Deep Blue Project.
As the Director General of NIMASA, he has promoted local shipping by adding impetus to cabotage enforcement and local content compliance, supporting capacity building, through its commitment to developing the skills and expertise of Nigerian seafarers and industry professionals and through its streamlining the process for indigenous ship-owners to access and disburse the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF).
Mobereola’s management has also promoted Inclusivity within NIMASA, working to ensure that the agency reflects the diversity of the maritime industry and the country as a whole, recognising and applauding Women’s Contribution in the sector as well as promoting the success of the Marine and Blue Economy sector.
It was thus in recognition of NIMASA’s commitment to enhancing service standards, improving transparency, ensuring efficiency in its operations, facilitating maritime safety, regulation, and the promotion of Nigeria’s maritime sector, that NIMASA recently received the SERVICOM Award for excellent service delivery, usually given to government agencies that have excelled in these areas.
A feat that is very commendable for Mobereola- led management is that within the short period of its tenure, it is already set to break a 27 – year jinx by securing approval from President Tinubu, with the support of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy to disburse, very soon, the over $ 700 million Cabotage Vessel Finance Fund (CVFF) , for indigenous shipping companies to acquire vessels.
This disbursement, which he has ensured would be at a single-digit interest rate, to make it easy for beneficiaries to pay back, will empower indigenous ship owners to compete favourably, boost local content in the maritime sector, create employment opportunities for Nigerian seafarers, and strengthen ancillary maritime services.
He has also increased the number of Primary Lending Institutions(PLIs) and introduced transparency to the scheme.
Also, to ensure that the indigenous shipping companies benefit from the provisions of the Inland and Coastal shipping Act, otherwise known as Cabotage Act of 2003, which allows them to operate their vessels on the Nigerian coastal waters, he has continued to work to ensure that the Bill for the review of the Act, which has been in the National Assembly is passed into law for the shipping companies to reap from it maximally.
It was even more gratifying that Mobereola with the approval of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy has resolved to end the execution of the waiver clause, enshrined in the Cabotage Act, through which foreign vessels take up the contracts that ought to have been executed by the local shipping companies, due to the need for the local carriers to function actively in coastal shipping.
To boost the capacity of indigenous carriers, the Agency is also implementing a Public Sector Cargo Support Programme, aimed at creating a captive freight market for local carriers and reducing the dominance of foreign shipping lines in Nigeria’s seaborne trade.
His management has likewise continued to keep alive the federal government’s plan to launch a national shipping carrier through a public-private partnership (PPP), aimed at boosting Nigeria’s influence in the regional maritime sector.
As the head of NIMASA, the Administrator of the Maritime sector, he has persistently promoted the Marine and Blue Economy potentials, called on private individuals and corporate investors to seize emerging opportunities within Nigeria’s Blue Economy, particularly in the maritime and inviting them to partner with NIMASA to develop a robust and competitive maritime sector that will create jobs and boost the national economy.
As part of measures to grow the new Marine and Blue economy sector, it is also to Mobereola’s credit that the Federal Executive Council (FEC), through Minister Oyetola, was able to approve a National Marine and Blue Economy Policy, as a visionary framework for national development, which is being implemented.
Mobereola’s management has ensured that maritime security is significantly enhanced with the full deployment of the Deep Blue project assets within the Nigerian Continental Shelf, having reviewed the Deep Blue Project agreement with the Nigerian Navy, reaffirmed NIMASA’s commitment to sustain the scheme, and emphasize its importance in suppressing maritime security challenges in Nigeria.
The Deep Blue Project comprises air, sea and land sophisticated assets, which were procured by the Federal Government, while NIMASA DG has had been able to boost the impact of the project on the nation’s maritime security architecture, having expanded the scope of the scheme to cover Nigeria’s maritime territory, including the newly declared maritime boundary
Under Mobereola as DG, the Deep Blue Project, coupled with the ongoing implementation of the anti-piracy law, has continued to contribute immensely to the significant reduction in piracy and other maritime crimes, thus enhancing safety and security on Nigerian waters.
Little wonder that the Mobereola-led management has been able to sustain the achievement of zero piracy incidence on Nigerian waters and the Gulf of Guinea, over the past three years, with the combined efforts of all key players.
For the fact that he has also continued to prioritise security and safety, he has made NIMASA achieve considerable progress of almost 100 per cent compliance in the implementation of the International Ships and Ports Facility Security (ISPS) Code.
This fact was attested by the representative of the US Coast Guard, Joe Prince Larson of the US Coast Guard, who led a team from the International Port Security Programme on a Working Tour of some Terminals and Ports in Nigeria recently, to ascertain the level of implementation of the ISPS Code across Nigerian port facilities.
Larson had noted that Nigeria’s compliance with the ISPS Code ranks amongst the best globally, adding that his team would report their findings to the leadership of the US Coast Guard and expressing confidence that NIMASA, under Mobereola, could maintain the high standards attained to date.
In making Nigeria to abide with global bodies labour laws, increase the country’s pace of engaging strategically with relevant international agencies and as part of the protection of the rights and interest of Seafarers’, NIMASA’s interface with the Marine and Blue Economy Minister made it possible for him, in Geneva, Switzerland, to sign treaties recently for the endorsement of Nigeria to amend eight Codes of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006.
The amendments include the codes related to the protection of seafarers against discrimination, identification of seafarers as key workers, enhanced access to shore-based welfare for seafarers, and the code on shipboard violence, harassment and bullying, accommodation and recreational facilities on board.
The fact that Mobereola used the platform in Geneva to reinforce Nigeria’s bid for election to Category C of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council, during the upcoming elections scheduled for November/ December 2025, while he has been involved in such lobbying in several other fora outside Nigeria, since assuming office, is an indication of the extent to which he has ensured that Nigeria is victorious in the election, this time.
Nigeria’s inclusion in the Council would strengthen Africa’s representation and voice in shaping international maritime policies that promote fair labour practices, environmental sustainability, and technical cooperation.
He has also been working with the Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association to review waiver clauses and ensure more opportunities for Nigerian seafarers.
In the area of Staff Welfare, Dr. Mobereola has implemented a merit-based promotion system, addressing previously stalled promotions and simplifying the agency’s hierarchy, while it has prioritised capacity building for all categories of workers.
Additionally, the Nigeria’s Ship Registry is to be automated this year by NIMASA, for purpose of efficiency, as part of the Ease of Doing Business policy of the Federal Government and to make the Nigerian Ship Registration process to be in line with those of other foreign maritime nations, such as Panama, Phillipines, Greece and US among others.
The registration automation process will also establish two types of Ship Registry, a Closed and an Open Ship Registry. The NIMASA DG’s plan with the automation is that, shipping companies which desire to register their ships in Nigeria will no longer visit NIMASA ‘s office but will just send their documents to the agency, online real time, and in 30 to 45 minutes, their request would receive attention, they will be issued certificate.
He has also made seafarers’ welfare and the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) to create a more equitable and sustainable maritime industry.
Apart from enhancing the NSDP, meant to produce skilled cadets for Nigeria, through training them in foreign universities in the UK, the Philippines and other countries in various maritime Engineering courses, he has likewise initiated a programme to replace foreign seafarers with Nigerians in certain positions, such as Ratings and Officer of the Watch.
Thus, considering its achievements so far within a relatively short period in office, it is expected that the Mobereola–led management would make NIMASA have a more positive impact on the maritime sector and the economy in the years ahead.
Shola Fadeyi is the Managing Director of Simofad Communications Ltd., and Publisher of Marine and Economy Magazine and Marine and Economy Online.