The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Navy have renewed a memorandum of understanding designed to improve coordination against maritime security threats, almost two decades after they first formalised their partnership.

The agencies signed the renewed agreement at the Naval Headquarters in Abuja on 11 August. NIMASA Director General Dayo Mobereola and Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Idi Abbas signed for their respective institutions.

The agreement will cover information sharing, joint operational responses, maritime law enforcement and the implementation of Nigeria’s maritime security laws, according to NIMASA.

The agency said the renewed MoU represents the first formal renewal of the partnership since the original agreement was signed in 2007.

What has changed?

The renewed agreement adds provisions that were not part of the earlier arrangement, including the integration of NIMASA’s Deep Blue Project into the joint framework.

Vice Admiral Abbas said the arrangement would strengthen cooperation between the Navy’s Maritime Guard Command and the Deep Blue Project.

It also introduces a joint reporting protocol for communication and information sharing during operations. The Navy said this should help agencies make faster decisions when maritime incidents occur.

The agreement also provides for an annual conference where the two institutions can review their cooperation and address emerging security challenges.

L-R: Director, Legal Services NIMASA, Heaky Dimowo; Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas; Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola; Commander, Maritime Guard Command (MGC), Commodore Reginald Adoki, during the NIMASA/NAVY MOU signing ceremonies at the Naval headquarters in Abuja.

Mobereola urged officials responsible for implementing the agreement to move beyond signing ceremonies.

“As we renew this partnership today, I urge our respective teams to ensure that the spirit of this agreement translates into practical and measurable outcomes,” he said.

That question of implementation will be important because the two agencies have worked together for years. The new agreement does not, by itself, show how much additional funding, equipment or personnel will support the new commitments.

Why does maritime security matter?

Nigeria relies heavily on its waterways for trade, energy exports and other economic activity. Disruption or insecurity at sea can increase risks for seafarers and shipping operators and raise the wider cost of moving goods.

Vice Admiral Abbas stressed the economic importance of securing the country’s maritime domain.

“Whether we like it or not, the water is where we get whatever we are getting—our revenue, everything and even the trade we engage in, in large percentages, is done through the water. So this institution has to be very strong,” he said.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) says secure links between ships, ports and people are essential for trade to flow effectively. It also identifies the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code as a key international framework for maritime security.

Nigeria’s maritime security framework also includes the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences (SPOMO) Act, enacted in 2019. NIMASA says the law provides the legal basis for prosecuting piracy and other maritime offences.

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Piracy has fallen, but security risks remain

The renewed agreement comes at a time when piracy in the Gulf of Guinea has fallen significantly from the levels recorded several years ago.

The IMO says collective efforts since 2021 have contributed to a reduction in pirate attacks in the Gulf of Guinea. It has nevertheless called for continued support for regional navies and maritime security institutions.

The IMO reported in 2025 that incidents in the Gulf of Guinea had fallen by five compared with 2023, a reduction of about 23%.

Global figures also show a sharp fall in reported incidents early this year. The International Maritime Bureau recorded 16 piracy and armed robbery incidents worldwide in the first quarter of 2026, the lowest first-quarter figure since 1991. It still warned that risks to seafarers remain.

That improvement makes continued coordination important rather than unnecessary. A decline in attacks does not eliminate the possibility of a resurgence or other forms of maritime crime.

NIMASA itself reported a suspected piracy incident in the wider Gulf of Guinea in May 2025 and said it coordinated with the Nigerian Navy and other regional agencies in response. The agency stressed that the incident did not occur in Nigerian waters.

Deep Blue Project takes centre stage

The integration of the Deep Blue Project into the renewed MoU is one of the most significant changes announced by the agencies.

NIMASA launched the project as an integrated maritime security system involving land, sea and air assets. Its stated purpose includes protecting Nigerian waters against piracy, sea robbery and other maritime crimes.

The Navy has previously confirmed that Deep Blue assets operate across Nigeria’s maritime zones as part of efforts to improve patrols and security.

In February 2026, Mobereola also called for continued cooperation with the Navy as NIMASA considered expanding the Deep Blue Project.

The latest agreement therefore builds on an existing operational relationship rather than creating one from scratch.

What does it mean for Nigerians?

For shipping companies and seafarers, better coordination could reduce delays and improve responses to attacks or other emergencies.

For the government, stronger maritime security could support efforts to expand the so-called Blue Economy, which depends on safe and reliable access to the sea.

The World Bank describes the Blue Economy as the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and job creation while protecting marine ecosystems.

For coastal communities, however, the impact will depend on how the agencies enforce maritime laws and manage operations. The agreement does not provide enough public detail to assess its financial cost or establish measurable targets for judging whether the partnership succeeds.

That creates an accountability question: what specific improvements should Nigerians expect, and when will the agencies publish evidence showing whether the new arrangement has delivered them?

A long-running partnership enters a new phase

NIMASA said the renewed MoU will strengthen the institutions’ ability to carry out their statutory responsibilities and respond to changing maritime security threats.

Mobereola credited Marine and Blue Economy Minister Adegboyega Oyetola with supporting inter-agency cooperation and linked the agreement to President Bola Tinubu’s Blue Economy agenda.

Those are government assessments rather than independently measured outcomes. The practical test will be whether the new reporting system, joint operations and annual reviews produce faster responses, better intelligence sharing and fewer security incidents.

The next stage will therefore be implementation. The agencies will need to turn the commitments contained in the MoU into operational procedures and provide evidence of progress if the renewed partnership is to deliver more than another formal agreement.

The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dayo Mobereola, has reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to green shipping and maritime decarbonisation as Nigeria seeks to align with global efforts to reduce emissions from the shipping industry.

The commitment was made during a strategic meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of Natural Eco Capital Limited, Dr Eugene Itua, where both parties discussed initiatives designed to accelerate Nigeria’s transition to a cleaner and more environmentally sustainable maritime sector.

Why it matters

Shipping is responsible for a significant share of global greenhouse gas emissions, and regulators worldwide are introducing stricter environmental standards to reduce the industry’s climate impact.

For Nigeria, adopting greener shipping practices could improve environmental protection, attract climate finance, strengthen the country’s competitiveness in international trade and support the long-term growth of its blue economy.

R-L : Executive Director, Operations, Engr. Fatai Adeyemi , Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, CEO, Natural Eco Capital Limited, Dr. Eugene Itua.

NIMASA: Collaboration is key

During the meeting, Dr Itua presented the Nigerian Green Shipping Excellence Programme (NGSEP) and the Green Maritime Recognition Scheme (GMRS), saying the initiatives could accelerate maritime decarbonisation, encourage the adoption of cleaner technologies, attract climate investments and position Nigeria as a regional leader in sustainable shipping.

Responding, Dr Mobereola welcomed the proposal and stressed the importance of partnerships.

He said, “Partnerships with the private sector and other stakeholders are essential to achieving Nigeria’s environmental sustainability objectives.”

The NIMASA Director-General added that “practical, innovative and collaborative approaches are critical to addressing climate change, safeguarding the marine environment, and enhancing the competitiveness of Nigeria’s maritime industry.”

The proposed NGSEP and GMRS are expected to encourage voluntary compliance while recognising organisations making measurable progress in reducing their environmental footprint.

L- R : CEO, Natural Eco Capital Limited, Dr. Eugene Itua, Director, Planning Research and Data Mgt. Services Dept., Mrs Aishatu Jidda, DG, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, Director, Marine Environment Mgt Dept., Dr. Oma Ofodile, and Executive Director, Operations, Engr. Fatai Adeyemi, all of NIMASA.

What happens next?

NIMASA and Natural Eco Capital Limited are expected to continue discussions on implementing the proposed initiatives.

If adopted, the programmes could support Nigeria’s transition to a low-carbon maritime sector while contributing to sustainable growth across the country’s marine and blue economy.

Residents of Snake Island in Lagos have welcomed a public awareness campaign by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) aimed at discouraging people from attempting to stow away on ships.

The campaign forms part of the agency’s efforts to reduce stowaway incidents, which remain a concern for the global shipping industry because they endanger lives, disrupt vessel operations and can lead to diplomatic and security challenges for coastal nations.

Why it matters

Nigeria is one of Africa’s busiest maritime hubs, with thousands of vessels calling at its ports each year. Maritime experts say preventing stowaways is essential for improving port security, protecting lives and strengthening confidence among international shipping companies doing business in the country.

During the community engagement at Snake Island, NIMASA officials met with traditional leaders, youths and residents to explain the risks associated with illegally boarding vessels.

Residents praised the awareness exercise, describing it as both timely and impactful, and encouraged the agency to sustain similar campaigns in other coastal communities.

NIMASA: Prevention is better than enforcement

Leading the agency’s delegation, the Head of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Unit, Mr Mudi Isa, said community participation remains one of the most effective ways of preventing stowaway incidents.

He said, “Stowaway incidents damage Nigeria’s reputation in the global maritime community.”

Mr Isa added that NIMASA remains committed to preventing such incidents through sustained public enlightenment and engagement with communities located around ports and waterways.

Expert perspective

Maritime security analysts say awareness campaigns complement physical security measures at ports by addressing one of the root causes of stowaway incidents—limited public understanding of the legal and personal consequences.

They note that successful maritime security depends not only on technology and law enforcement but also on cooperation from communities located near ports, jetties and waterfronts.

Industry and public perspective

Shipping operators have repeatedly stressed that stowaway incidents can increase operational costs through delays, investigations and additional security procedures.

Community engagement initiatives such as NIMASA’s campaign could also help reduce risks for young people who may underestimate the dangers of hiding aboard ships, including injury, starvation, dehydration and prosecution.

What happens next?

NIMASA says it will continue taking its anti-stowaway awareness campaign to grassroots communities across Nigeria as part of wider efforts to strengthen maritime security and support the Federal Government’s Blue Economy agenda.

The agency hopes that sustained public education will reduce incidents while improving Nigeria’s standing within the international maritime community.