Yemisi Izuora
The Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez, has applauded the appointment of Dr. Dayo Mobereola by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR as the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Dominguez acknowledged the commendable efforts of NIMASA in developing a strong maritime sector in Nigeria. He praised Nigeria’s significant investments and initiatives in strengthening its maritime institutions.
Dominguez highlighted the positive impact of Nigeria’s focus on enhancing maritime law enforcement and security architecture, which has been well-received by seafarers and flag States. He specifically mentioned the Deep Blue project, the C4i Centre, and the maritime piracy laws under the SPOMO Act as exemplary investments that have set a new standard for maritime security capacity building in the region.
The IMO has been a longstanding supporter of the regional role played by the Yaoundé Code of Conduct and its Member States in strengthening maritime security and law enforcement. Dominguez expressed satisfaction with the continuation of this regional ownership through the establishment and work of the Gulf of Guinea Maritime Collaboration Forum and Shared Awareness and De-confliction (GoG-MCF/SHADE) in 2021.
Dominguez commended NIMASA’s partnerships with various regional bodies and expressed the IMO’s willingness to collaborate with Nigeria and other member states on various maritime issues. The aim is to collectively address these challenges and ensure the safety and security of maritime activities.
He also acknowledged the instrumental role played by NIMASA’s partnership with the Interregional Coordination Centre (ICC), collaboration with the shipping industry, navies, and the Yaoundé architecture in suppressing the threat of piracy to merchant vessels and seafarers. This aligns with the UN Security Council resolution 2634 (2022) on piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea and IMO Assembly resolution A.1159 (32).
He expressed his anticipation of collaborating with you and your coworkers on various maritime matters that we are collectively addressing. He also expressed his desire to personally greet you at the IMO.