Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has reaffirmed the country’s commitment to strengthening maritime cooperation with The Gambia to bolster regional security and drive economic growth.
Speaking at the Fourth Blue Economy Conference in Banjul, The Gambia, Dr Dayo Mobereola, Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), delivered the minister’s remarks, highlighting Nigeria’s dedication to enhancing maritime security infrastructure beyond its territorial waters.
The initiative aligns with Nigeria’s broader strategy to foster sustainable blue economy development and reinforce partnerships across the West African region.
He revealed that discussions are ongoing regarding extending the Deep Blue Project’s operations to cover a wider area within the Gulf of Guinea.
“Nigeria remains committed to stabilising, fostering cooperation, and promoting sustainable development through the blue economy. We are dedicated to ensuring safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea region. Given the recent disruption in global trade caused by the crisis in the Suez Canal, there has been a surge in shipping traffic around Africa. To address this, Nigeria is working towards extending the operational coverage of its Deep Blue assets to further enhance maritime security,” Dr Mobereola stated.
In addition to advancing regional cooperation, Dr Mobereola called on delegates at the conference to support Nigeria’s bid for re-election to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council (Category ‘C’) for the 2026-2027 biennium.
“Let me take this opportunity to inform this esteemed gathering that Nigeria has formally declared its candidacy for the IMO Council election under Category ‘C’ for the 2026-2027 term. We seek the kind support and vote of member states of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA) in the forthcoming election at the 34th IMO Assembly Session. Nigeria’s representation in the IMO Council will strengthen Africa’s voice in global maritime decision-making, particularly in areas related to the blue economy, maritime safety and security, and environmental sustainability, given the volume of trade conducted in our region,” he said.
Dr. Mobereola also highlighted that Nigeria’s efforts in maritime security have received global recognition. Both the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) and the IMO have commended the country for its effective deployment of the Deep Blue Project, which has sustained zero piracy incidents in Nigerian waters for the past three years.
Nigeria remains committed to fostering strategic partnerships, strengthening maritime security, and advancing the shared economic interests of West and Central African nations through sustainable blue economy initiatives.
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