In June 2025, Nigeria formally launched her bid for re-election into Category ‘C’ of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for the 2026-2027 biennium. The launch was led by the nation’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, at a ceremony which held at the IMO headquarters in London.
After the official launch, an inter-ministerial committee was also inaugurated in Nigeria to promote the bid and ensure it is inclusive and strategically coordinated. Members of the Committee were drawn from all agencies under the ministry, it also has the full participation of officials of the Ministry of Foreign affairs.
Since the launch, the Minister has led the campaign from the front, and he has demonstrated seriousness. This is exemplified by the various pre-election activities and
Nigeria has been a member of the International Maritime Organisation for decades. However, in 2007, she made her first successful move for a seat in Category ‘C’ of the IMO Council. While seeking election in that year, Nigeria had tough challenges from virtually all countries in West Africa. It was at the peak of the lobby that Nigeria struck a deal with Ghana.
In 2011, exactly four years after securing the seat and after serving two terms, Nigeria failed to secure re-election into the council. Since then, Nigeria has lost out in her quests to be re-elected into the Council.
The IMO Category ‘C’, in which Nigeria covet a seat, is a group of 20 states that are elected to the International Maritime Organization Council based on their special interests in maritime transport or navigation. The election of these states ensures that all major geographic areas of the world are represented on the Council.
The last time Nigeria contested, the then-Director General of NIMASA; Dr. Bashir Jamoh threw up what he considered as the nation’s unique selling points.
According to him, the unique selling point for Nigeria’s bid is the supposed safe water channels of Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea. He had said before an international gathering in Portugal that: “We ask for your vote and count on your continued confidence in the efforts of Nigeria to work in partnership with other nation-states in the Gulf of Guinea, to continue keeping our corridor of the Atlantic Ocean a safe passage for seafarers, their vessels and the vital supplies they transport for our common sustenance.”
Perhaps, as Nigeria gears-up for the next election, it may be useful to recall how and why we lost in 2011. The then-Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA); Dr Ade Dosumu gave an insight into why we lost in 2011. He disclosed that: “We have an agreement with Ghana. I was the chairman of the technical committee on Nigeria’s re-election and I led the delegation to Ghana. Our agreement with Ghana is that Nigeria would go to category ‘C’ and spend four years and move to ‘B’, because Ghana says they will only step down for Nigeria for two terms after which they want to come to ‘C’ and expect Nigeria to move to ‘B’ and support Ghana. These are major issues in international politics. Four years is enough for us to bring our safety administration to a higher level that will be acceptable internationally”.
In our desperation to clinch the IMO seat in that year, our delegation promised exactly what Dr Dosumu stated above, and just two years after, Nigeria reneged on the agreement she had with Ghana, which many West African countries were aware of.
Unknown to many, Nigeria didn’t lose because we were not qualified to be in the Council, our loss was not because we didn’t campaign well. We were qualified and we campaigned well, we even hosted Ambassadors to a dinner, we did all that we should.
Nigeria lost to politics – we lost because we became ‘greedy’ and assumed that we must grab all; we also lost because of unfulfilled promises, among others.
Without any prejudice, there is a lot of political maneuvering going on ahead of all IMO elections. While one may not be privy to how deeply NIMASA under Dr Mobereola understands the game, it may not be out of place to take a cue from what Dr Dosunmu highlighted above.
The IMO election is about giving and taking; that is, you must offer something to get what you want. We recall how the feud in the sub-regional bloc called the Maritime Organization for West and Central Africa (MOWCA), over which country should produce the secretary of the body, affected Nigeria at the last eletion.
With 23 countries as members in the West and Central African region and two other countries affiliated to it from outside the regions, MOWCA boasts of 25 countries with a strong contingent of 14 French-speaking countries in its fold. The 14 French-speaking members of MOWCA include Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Cote d’Ivoire, Gabon, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, and Togo. For the English-speaking countries, a paltry five: The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone top up the number to 19. Three Portuguese speaking countries from the West and Central African region, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau and Sao Tome & Principe, with two affiliated countries from outside the region, Mozambique and Angola take the membership haul to 24; while Equatorial Guinea, a Spanish-speaking country completes the membership list to 25.
At the end of the protracted feud, Nigeria eventually produced Dr Paul Adalikwu. This led to protest votes at the IMO election.
We also advise that Nigeria should not hope to secure an advantage based on the visit of the IMO scribe. After all, history recalls that a similar visit during the tenure of Dr Ade Dosunmu did nothing to enhance Nigeria’s chances.
The election of nations into Category C of the IMO ensures that all major geographic areas of the world are represented on the Council.
At the last election which held during the 31st Session of the IMO, Nigeria lost to Kenya by one vote in the Category ‘C’ elections. Kenya got 111 votes to come 20th; while Nigeria got 110 votes to make 21st. Saudi Arabia got 106, Poland 101, and Liberia 100.
This made West Africa to lose its only seat in the Council, as Egypt, Morocco, South Africa, and Kenya retained their seats in the 20-member Category ‘C’ .
In the elections that is coming up today (Friday), the IMO says that 26 countries are vying for the 20 slots. They are: Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belgium, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand and Türkiye.
A closer look at the countries that are jostling for a seat reveals the dicey nature of Nigeria’s bid. In the list are: Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, which are seeking re-election. These countries are also traditional rivals of Nigeria in regional diplomacy. But, there is no representation from West Africa, even though the sub-region also has reasonable maritime capabilities and relevance.
Some optimists have pointed at the recent visit of the Secretary General of the IMO; Mr Arsenio Dominguez, as a booster for Nigeria. Yes, he came and saw what Nigeria has done in the area of maritime safety and capacity development. But, securing “Category ‘C’ is purely a political contest rather than on the strength of assets. It’s basically on political maneuvers rather than operational achievements.
On the other hand, Monday’s meeting between Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola and China’s Vice Minister of Transport, Mr. Li Yang, is a big boost. But, we hope the assurance will translate to a push from China for Nigeria, especially among African nations which also have a strong economic and political tie with China.
Nigeria deserves to win, not only because we campaigned seriously for it. But significantly because we have since grown from where we were in the last elections. Our maritime infrastructures have grown, so as our maritime diplomacy evolved.
