Nigeria’s Maritime Triumphs: A Year of Zero Piracy, Global Influence, and Shipyard Excellence - DG NIMASA

By Lod Onyeji

In a festive end‑of‑year address, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, Director‑General of Nigeria’s Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), extended warm Christmas greetings to industry stakeholders while reflecting on a landmark year for the nation’s maritime sector. Speaking through Deputy Director and Head of Public Relations Osagie Edward, Dr. Mobereola highlighted several pivotal achievements that have bolstered Nigeria’s standing both regionally and globally.

Chief among the successes was the historic accomplishment of *zero piracy incidents* throughout 2025—a first in recent memory, underscoring NIMASA’s aggressive “zero‑tolerance” policy and the effectiveness of the Deep Blue Project in securing Nigerian waters . ¹ Complementing this security milestone, Nigeria deposited *three Instruments of Accession to IMO Conventions*, a move formalized by President Bola Tinubu and signaling the country’s renewed commitment to international maritime law .

The agency also celebrated *industrial harmony*, with uninterrupted operations across ports and shipping lanes, a testament to collaborative efforts between labour unions, private operators, and government bodies. This peaceful climate contributed to a notable diplomatic triumph: *Nigeria’s election to the Category C Council of the International Maritime Organization*, securing a voice in the global governance of shipping and maritime safety .

Beyond these headline achievements, NIMASA’s recent certification of *27 shipyards nationwide*—10 in Lagos, 8 in Rivers, and 9 in Delta—has positioned the country as a burgeoning hub for quality vessel construction, complete with Keel Identification Numbers that meet IMO standards . The agency’s leadership reiterated that these milestones are only the beginning, promising further investments in maritime infrastructure, environmental protection, and digital transformation as Nigeria steers toward a sustainable blue economy.