By Joshua Yousouph
A former Deputy Registrar of the Liberian Maritime Authority and maritime expert, Captain Anthony Onoharigho, has urged the Federal Government to adopt an open ship registry regime as a strategic measure to boost revenue generation, expand Nigeria’s vessel fleet, create employment opportunities, and strengthen the country’s competitiveness in the global maritime industry.
Onoharigho made the call in an interview in Lagos while reacting to recent discussions between the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Malta Ship Registry during Posidonia 2026 in Athens, Greece. The discussions focused on areas of collaboration aimed at modernising the Nigerian Ship Registry.
According to him, the engagement offers Nigeria an opportunity to draw lessons from established maritime jurisdictions such as Malta and Liberia, which have successfully developed globally competitive ship registration systems that attract vessel owners from different parts of the world.
The maritime administrator, who previously served as Deputy Registrar of the Liberian Maritime Authority, observed that Nigeria’s current ship registration framework remains restrictive and bureaucratic, making it less appealing to shipowners seeking efficient registration services.
He noted that while several leading maritime nations operate open registries that permit foreign-owned vessels to register under their national flags, Nigeria continues to maintain a largely closed registry system, thereby limiting the growth of its fleet.
“One of the reasons Nigeria has not been able to significantly increase its fleet size is the cumbersome nature of vessel registration. Shipowners naturally prefer countries where registration processes are simple, transparent and fast. In some jurisdictions, registration can be completed within 24 hours, whereas the process may take weeks or even months in Nigeria,” Onoharigho said.
He explained that adopting an open registry model would encourage more vessel owners to fly the Nigerian flag, increasing the country’s fleet tonnage and enhancing its standing within the international maritime community.
According to him, a larger fleet operating under the Nigerian flag would improve the country’s global maritime visibility and strengthen its influence in international maritime institutions.
“Every vessel that flies the Nigerian flag becomes an ambassador of the country across international waters. Beyond the prestige associated with a larger fleet, there are significant economic benefits. Every registered vessel pays annual registration and renewal fees, which generate steady revenue for government,” he stated.
The former President of the Nigerian Institute of Shipping (NIS) further argued that a more competitive ship registry would attract greater investment into the maritime sector and improve confidence among both local and international shipowners.
He commended NIMASA’s ongoing efforts to automate the Nigerian Ship Registry, describing the initiative as a critical step towards improving efficiency and service delivery.
“The move towards full automation is commendable. The future of ship registration lies in technology-driven systems that allow operators to complete transactions efficiently and transparently. If Nigeria successfully modernises its registry, it will become more attractive to investors and vessel owners,” he said.
Onoharigho also highlighted the employment potential of an open registry regime, particularly when implemented alongside the Cabotage Act. He said an expanded fleet under the Nigerian flag would create more opportunities for Nigerian seafarers, cadets and maritime professionals.
“We have thousands of trained cadets and maritime graduates searching for opportunities. Expanding the fleet through an open registry system will create more jobs for Nigerian seafarers and provide practical training opportunities that are currently lacking,” he noted.
He added that maritime employment remains one of the most effective ways of tackling youth unemployment while building the skilled workforce required to drive Nigeria’s blue economy ambitions.
The maritime expert urged policymakers to study successful ship registry models operated by Malta and Liberia, stressing that valuable lessons from those jurisdictions could assist Nigeria in building a modern and globally respected registry system.
He maintained that Nigeria’s maritime sector possesses significant untapped potential and that reforms aimed at increasing vessel registration, improving regulatory efficiency and encouraging indigenous participation would contribute substantially to economic growth.
Expressing optimism about the ongoing partnership discussions between NIMASA and the Malta Ship Registry, Onoharigho said the collaboration could serve as a catalyst for wider reforms capable of transforming Nigeria into a leading maritime hub in Africa.
“If the right reforms are implemented, Nigeria can become one of Africa’s leading maritime nations. The opportunity is there. What is needed is the political will and commitment to build a ship registry that is efficient, competitive and attractive to vessel owners around the world,” he added.
