- Secretary-General of International Maritime Organisation, Arsenio Dominguez
By Anthony Nwachukwu
Aware of the efforts of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in building a robust maritime sector in the country, the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez, has assured the new Director-General, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, of support.
In a letter congratulating Mobereola on his appointment, Dominguez said the IMO recognised Nigeria’s significant efforts, initiatives and investments in strengthening its maritime institutions, adding: “I look forward to working with you and your colleagues on many of the maritime issues that we are jointly tackling and hope to welcome you in person at the IMO.”
The IMO head explained that “the focus on strengthening maritime law enforcement and security architecture has been welcomed by seafarers and flag states,” according to a statement from the NIMASA Assistant Director/Head, Public Relations, Mr. Osagie Edward.
“The Deep Blue project and the C4i Centre, as well as maritime piracy laws under the SPOMO Act, are just some of the many investments that have set a new gold standard in the region in maritime security capacity building.
“IMO has long supported the regional role of the Yaoundé Code of Conduct and its member-states in strengthening maritime security and law enforcement.
“In this respect, we have been greatly encouraged with the continuation of this regional ownership with the formation and work of the Gulf of Guinea Maritime Collaboration Forum and Shared Awareness and De-confliction (GoG-MCF/SHADE) in 2021.”
He commended NIMASA’s partnership with the various regional bodies, and expressed IMO’s readiness to work with Nigeria and other member-states on many maritime issues, in order to jointly tackle them.
Dominguez further noted that “NIMASA’s partnership with the Interregional Coordination Centre (ICC) and the collaboration with the shipping industry, navies and the Yaoundé architecture has been instrumental in suppressing the threat of piracy to merchant vessels and seafarers.
These efforts, he stated, are “in line with UN Security Council resolution 2634 (2022) on piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea and IMO Assembly resolution A.1159 (32).”
