Nigeria to Bid for IMO Council Seat

Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, has announced Nigeria’s intention to bid for a Category-C seat in the upcoming International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council election.

Oyetola made the declaration on Monday in Abuja during the inaugural African Strategic Summit on Shipping Decarbonisation.

The summit, hosted by the ministry in collaboration with the Bartlett Energy Institute at University College London (UCL), focused on advancing sustainable maritime practices across Africa.

The IMO Category-C refers to 20 states not elected under categories A or B, that have interests in maritime transport or navigation.

Category C ensures the representation of all major geographic areas.

If elected, Nigeria will be returning to the IMO category-C council after 20 years since its last successful membership in 2005 and after three unsuccessful bids between 2011 and 2019.

Oyetola said that Nigeria, as a vibrant member state of the IMO, was shifting from being a passive recipient of global policies to being an active architect of solutions that reflect unique circumstances and aspirations.

“Today, we gather, not just to discuss challenges, but to forge solutions that will propel Africa towards a sustainable and prosperous blue economy.

“The global shipping industry is at a pivotal juncture as IMO is set to finalise and adopt the policy framework on the Revised Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Reduction Strategy and the Basket of Midterm Measures.

“The progression of negotiations and research work done so far suggests that Africa, along with most developing countries, will be mostly impacted.

“This is due to the transport cost increase as a result of the energy transition to near-zero and zero emissions for the shipping sector,” he said.

Oyetola solicited support for Nigeria’s candidacy and pledged the country’s commitment to deliver on its mandate to the benefit of Africa if elected.

He said that as IMO was advancing its regulatory framework on decarbonisation, Africa must ensure that its voice is heard and its interests safeguarded in shaping policies that impact the economies and livelihoods.

He urged stakeholders at the summit to solidify Africa’s position and advocate for policy mechanisms that ensure fair revenue distribution from global decarbonisation measures.

According to him, the summit is a catalyst for Africa to forge stronger collaborations amongst African states, as well as global partners, and to build stronger alliances with regions of similar maritime and economic profiles.

This, he said, was the only way to collectively advocate for a just and equitable implementation of IMO policies that support developing economies.

In his remarks, Dr Harry Conway, Chairperson of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the IMO, said that Africa’s contribution to the organisation was critical in shaping shipping policies.

Conway said that Africa needed to make contributions to the IMO policies because 90 per cent of trades in the region were seaborne.

“The IMO has 176 member states, 89 non-governmental organisations, six inter-governmental organisations, and only 44 African countries.

“This is only about 25 per cent representation of 176 member states and Africa has to be involved in the policy-making that shapes its shipping industry,” he said.

Dr Dayo Mobereola, Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), said that it was pertinent to prioritise sustainable and responsible maritime practices as Africa grew and developed.

“The decisions we make today will shape the future of our maritime industry and our contribution to global climate goals.

“This summit provides a unique opportunity to align our regional strategies with international frameworks while addressing Africa’s challenges and opportunities,” he said.

Mr John Omingo, Kenya Chairperson of the Association of African Maritime Administrations (AAMA), highlighted the benefits of decarbonisation and the need for Africa to shape shipping policies in the IMO.

Omingo recommended regional collaboration and inclusive transition incorporating financial assistance, technology transfer and capacity-building for Africa to enhance participation in global initiatives.

He also called for incentives, subsidies, green financing options, capacity building and training for African maritime stakeholders and trade-green corridors.

Dr Dola Oluleye, the Principal Investigator of the LEAP project, at UCL, said that shipping remained a platform for global trading, moving about 90 per cent of the world’s goods.

 

 

NAN