The Secretary-General of the Maritime Organisation for West and Central Africa (MOWCA), Dr Paul Adalikwu, on Wednesday disclosed ongoing diplomatic efforts to secure a bloc vote from the organisation’s 25 member countries in support of Nigeria’s bid for re-election to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council later this year.
Speaking with maritime journalists in Lagos, Dr Adalikwu confirmed that the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy had reached out to MOWCA for backing. He expressed optimism that Nigeria’s campaign, now under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and a newly established ministry, would gain traction among regional allies.
“Nigeria last held a seat in IMO Category C in 2011. Since then, we have contested four more times unsuccessfully. This time, with strong coordination from the Ministry and the President’s endorsement, I believe we have a real opportunity,” Adalikwu said.
He revealed that Nigeria’s campaign team recently travelled to London to officially launch their bid, seeking international backing ahead of the elections. “I am in active discussions with all 25 member states of MOWCA to secure a bloc vote in favour of Nigeria,” he added.
Addressing growing concerns over frequent boat accidents in West and Central African waters, Dr Adalikwu underscored the urgency of improving ferry safety across the region. He cited alarming statistics showing over 8,000 lives lost to ferry accidents across member countries—including Nigeria, Senegal, and the Democratic Republic of Congo—over the past decade.
“This is a staggering figure. It’s what prompted MOWCA to engage with Gabon following the tragic ‘Esther Miracle’ incident, which even led to the removal of Gabon’s Transport Minister,” he noted.
The resulting deliberations culminated in the Libreville Plan of Action, adopted at a regional conference hosted in Gabon last year.
Dr Adalikwu added that Nigeria, as a pivotal member of MOWCA and a nation grappling with recurring maritime mishaps, is now taking the lead in continuing the safety campaign. A two-day safety conference, organised in collaboration with the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) and InterFerry, a Canada-based international ferry body, is set to raise awareness among all 36 Nigerian states about the importance of maritime safety.
On the welfare of seafarers, especially in regard to harassment, Dr Adalikwu reaffirmed MOWCA’s collaboration with the IMO to implement protective frameworks.
“MOWCA is not acting in isolation. We are actively partnering with the IMO to tackle seafarer harassment, particularly cases involving women,” he said.
He stressed that collaborative efforts with key stakeholders remain vital to ensuring safe, secure, and inclusive maritime environments across the region.