The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and vice chairman of the Abuja MOU, His Excellency, Adegboyega Oyetola has called on member states to prioritise the full ratification and domestication of all relevant maritime instruments.
Oyetola made this call during the 13th Port State Control Committee Meeting of the Abuja Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control for West and Central Africa (Abuja MoU), held in Abidjan and hosted by the government of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire.
The director-general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh, emphasised Nigeria’s commitment to effectively implement regulatory instruments within its maritime sector.
Oyetola stressed the importance of ensuring that maritime domains in member states remain safe, secure, and environmentally friendly. He reiterated the need for full ratification and domestication of all relevant instruments, compliance with the requirement for member states to inspect at least 15 per cent of vessels calling at their ports, and collaboration to prevent substandard vessels from trading within the region.
Jamoh highlighted Nigeria’s commitment to good governance in its maritime sector through the ratification of six international maritime conventions. These conventions cover various areas, including training standards, pollution management and passenger luggage carriage by sea. Some of the conventions include the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships 2009, as well as the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel (STCW-F) 1995.
Nigeria’s ratification of these conventions reflects its dedication to safe and environmentally responsible maritime practices.
The secretary-general of Abuja MoU, Captain Sunday Umoren assured continuous engagement sessions to foster regional collaboration and achieve globally accepted Port State Control in West and Central Africa. Deliberations during the meeting included member states’ performance on PSC inspections and their financial status.
The event was attended by Women in Maritime West Africa (WIMOWCA) in their observer status capacity, demonstrating the commitment to gender inclusivity in maritime affairs.
