Following Nigeria’s election into the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council after a 14-year hiatus, key stakeholders in the nation’s maritime industry have termed the victory a significant diplomatic milestone.
However, the commendation comes with a stern caveat with Stakeholders noting that the international accolade must translate into immediate, tangible reforms for local operators, shippers, and service providers within the domestic maritime sector.
While industry leaders acknowledged the diplomatic efforts required to regain the seat, the prevailing sentiment is one of cautious optimism, with many insisting that the Federal Government must now replicate this international vigor on the home front to address the sector’s decaying infrastructure and policy inconsistencies.
The President of the Nigerian Shipowners Association (NISA), Mr. Sola Adewunmi, described the election victory as a major achievement deserving of celebration but warned against complacency.
He argued that indigenous shipowners expect the government to address long-standing challenges in the shipping industry with the same level of commitment shown in the diplomatic lobby.
Adewunmi lamented that despite the existence of the Cabotage Act, foreign vessels continue to dominate Nigeria’s coastal trade, effectively rendering many indigenous shipowners jobless.
He further noted that despite repeated government promises regarding the establishment of a national carrier, local operators have felt little to no impact.
He queried the value of international recognition if the local industry remains comatose, pointing out that the number of Nigerian-owned vessels is in steady decline while foreigners monopolize jobs meant for citizens.
He urged the government to ensure the gains from the IMO Council seat reflect directly in the growth of indigenous tonnage.
Echoing the call for domestic reform, the Shippers Association of Lagos State (SALS) emphasized that the return to the IMO Council has done little to alleviate the high cost of doing business at Nigerian ports. SALS President, Mr. Nicodemus Odolo, argued that the IMO seat is largely political and does not automatically resolve the operational inefficiencies and excessive charges that plague the ports.
Odolo stressed that Nigeria currently loses significant revenue due to these inefficiencies, leaving the country at the mercy of foreign shipowners who dictate freight charges.
This monopoly, he noted, makes importing into Nigerian ports significantly more expensive than utilizing neighboring ports such as Lome, Togo.
He decried the prolonged delays in cargo clearance, demanding a new operational standard where import cargoes are cleared within 24 hours and export cargoes within 12 hours.
He warned that without such efficiency, the costs of delays will continue to be transferred to the final consumer, driving up market prices.
Taking a more optimistic stance, the Barge Operators Association of Nigeria (BOAN) credited the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for his focus and leadership in securing the IMO victory. BOAN President, Mr. Bunmi Olumekun, admitted that while challenges persist in the barging sector, the international win is a testament to the Minister’s capacity to deliver.
Olumekun expressed confidence that the administration’s efforts would yield visible improvements in the sector by mid-2026.
He highlighted the strategic role barge operators play in positioning Nigeria to benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and urged the government to pivot its attention toward strengthening the barging sector in the coming year.
Across the broad spectrum of the industry, the consensus remains that while the IMO Council seat is a laudable prestige project, the true measure of success for the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy will be its ability to revive indigenous participation, reduce operational costs, and improve the speed of business at Nigerian ports.
