Nigeria’s Return to IMO Council: MOWCA Sec-Gen Reveals Strong Backing from Member States
By Raheem Ibrahim
The Secretary-General of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), Dr. Paul Adalikwu, has revealed why the sub-regional body actively campaigned for Nigeria’s return to the Council of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
Congratulating President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, on Nigeria’s victory at Friday’s IMO Council election, Adalikwu recalled the setback of Nigeria’s absence from the council for 14 years.
According to him, Nigeria’s volume of maritime trade and its strategic influence in the Gulf of Guinea make the country a critical player in Africa’s maritime ecosystem.
He noted that the increased interest of the Nigerian government in maritime affairs—evidenced by the creation of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy by President Tinubu—reinforces the country’s credentials as a key maritime nation.
“MOWCA sees Nigeria as a country capable of speaking for other maritime nations in West and Central Africa, considering its deep involvement in multimodal logistics for trade—linking rail to the Abuja airport, linking rail to the Apapa Port in Lagos, and operating dry ports in Kaduna, Kano, and Katsina, with more coming up nationwide,” he said.
Speaking on the benefits of rejoining the IMO Council, Adalikwu explained that Nigeria can now participate in influencing global shipping rules and play a direct role in approving the IMO’s work programme and strategic plan, which shape or halt new regulations over the next two years.
He added that the victory opens opportunities to position national experts from council member countries in key IMO committees, protect national shipping fleets and registries from unfavourable regulations, and defend the country’s flag-state interests where global maritime decisions are made.
Adalikwu further noted that Nigeria’s seat on the council guarantees access to technical assistance, training opportunities, and funding through the IMO’s Technical Cooperation Programme, while boosting the country’s diplomatic prestige through global networking with peer maritime nations.
With council membership, Nigeria and MOWCA member states will also gain early access to regulatory proposals, enabling better preparation for emerging global maritime standards.
Dr. Adalikwu expressed gratitude to all member states, as well as the governments of Indonesia and Singapore, for supporting MOWCA’s campaign in securing Nigeria’s victory.
