Nigeriaโs 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 Nigeriaโs 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 Nigeriaโs victory at Fridayโs IMO Council election, Adalikwu recalled the setback of Nigeriaโs absence from the council for 14 years.
According to him, Nigeriaโs volume of maritime trade and its strategic influence in the Gulf of Guinea make the country a critical player in Africaโs maritime ecosystem.
He noted that the increased interest of the Nigerian government in maritime affairsโevidenced by the creation of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy by President Tinubuโreinforces the countryโs credentials as a key maritime nation.
โMOWCA 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 tradeโlinking 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,โ 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 IMOโs 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 countryโs flag-state interests where global maritime decisions are made.
Adalikwu further noted that Nigeriaโs seat on the council guarantees access to technical assistance, training opportunities, and funding through the IMOโs Technical Cooperation Programme, while boosting the countryโs 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 MOWCAโs campaign in securing Nigeriaโs victory.
