By our correspondent
The upcoming International Maritime Organization (IMO) elections on Friday, November 28, 2025, is less of an election and more of a diplomatic siege. Nigeria is attempting to break back into the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council (Category C) after a prolonged absence since 2011.
The mathematics of the election are brutal: 26 countries are fighting for just 20 seats. Unlike Categories A and B which are largely reserved for major shipping powers (like China, Greece, and the US) and major trading nations (like Brazil and Germany) based on statistical calculations, Category C is an open political contest. It is designed to ensure geographical representation, making it the most unpredictable and fiercely contested bracket.
Egypt, Kenya, and Morocco currently hold seats and are fighting to retain them. They have the advantage of incumbency and established relationships in London while Nigeria and South Africa are the heavyweights attempting to force their way in.
In previous failed bids (notably in 2017, 2019, and 2021), Nigeria’s campaign often relied on potential. This year, under Minister Adegboyega Oyetola, the strategy has shifted to evidence-based diplomacy.
At a well-attended lunch reception on last week at the IMO headquarters in London. Oyetola emphasized tangible achievements rather than promises. The Minister is positioning Nigeria not as a beneficiary, but as a net contributor to global maritime security.
The core of the Minister’s argument is the “Deep Blue Project.” By citing data from the International Maritime Bureau (zero piracy incidents in four years), Oyetola is effectively dismantling the long-standing stigma of the Gulf of Guinea being a high-risk zone. This is a data-driven approach designed to appeal to the technocrats and insurers who hold sway in the IMO.
Furthermore, the inclusion of a persuasive appeal regarding natural disasters in the Caribbean and Philippines is a calculated diplomatic move. It demonstrates that Nigeria is thinking beyond its own borders, positioning itself as an empathetic global player, a trait highly valued in multilateral organizations like the UN and IMO.
More importantly, the specific creation and mention of the “Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy” serves as a signal to the international community that Nigeria has institutionalized its maritime focus. It suggests that maritime issues are no longer just a department under transportation, but a cabinet-level priority.
What Nigeria stands to benefit from an IMO council seat (Category C)
Securing a seat in Category C (which represents states with special interests in maritime transport or navigation and ensures fair geographical representation) goes beyond prestige. It carries significant economic and political weight.
The membership allows Nigeria to actively participate in drafting policies on maritime safety, environmental protection, and seafarer rights. Instead of merely complying with rules made by others, Nigeria can ensure new regulations (e.g., on decarbonization or fuel standards) do not disproportionately harm its developing economy or oil and gas sector.
Despite the drop in piracy, many international insurers still charge war risk premiums on cargo heading to Nigerian ports. A seat on the Council validates Nigeria’s security improvements at the highest level. This political validation can be used to aggressively lobby the Joint War Committee of Lloyd’s of London to remove these surcharges, potentially saving the Nigerian economy millions of dollars annually in freight costs and reducing the cost of imported goods.
Council membership acts as a “seal of approval” regarding the safety and governance of Nigeria’s maritime domain. It signals to foreign investors that Nigeria is a safe harbor for investments in port infrastructure, aquaculture, and ship repair facilities, which are central to the new Ministry’s mandate.
Council members often have prioritized access to IMO’s Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP). This means more funding and expert training for Nigerian maritime personnel, funding for maritime academies, and technology transfers for monitoring pollution and ocean health.
Winning the seat solidifies Nigeria’s status as the maritime leader of West and Central Africa. It gives Nigeria the mandate to speak for the region, coordinating regional security architectures and potentially hosting more international maritime bureaus and headquarters.
As a Council member, Nigeria can better advocate for the rights, welfare, and training certification of Nigerian seafarers, making it easier for them to get jobs on international vessels (foreign-flagged ships).
If successful on Friday, November 28, 2025, the victory will likely be framed not just as a win for diplomacy, but as a foundational economic victory that lowers the cost of doing business in Nigeria’s waters.