Maritime
NIMASA, Navy Renew Maritime Security MoU Amid Evolving Threats
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.
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 Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has reaffirmed its commitment to using the cabotage regime to strengthen indigenous capacity and increase the participation of Nigerian-owned vessels in the country’s maritime industry.
NIMASA Director-General, Dr Dayo Mobereola, made the commitment on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, during a tour of Marine Platforms Limited’s African Pioneer Lagos, an offshore diving support vessel operating under the Nigerian flag.
Mobereola said vessels capable of carrying out specialised operations should receive priority under Nigeria’s maritime framework, while disclosing that the agency is automating the Nigerian ship registry to encourage more vessels to fly the country’s flag.
“A vessel such as this flying the Nigerian flag should have priority over any foreign vessel.”
— Dayo Mobereola, NIMASA Director-General
NIMASA pushes indigenous capacity
The African Pioneer Lagos, with IMO number 9808613, is a Nigerian-flagged offshore Diving Support Vessel (DSV) measuring about 143 metres in length, with a deadweight of approximately 8,000 metric tonnes.
The vessel is designed to support specialised deep-water subsea construction, diving, inspection and offshore oil and gas operations.
Speaking after touring the vessel, Mobereola said its capabilities demonstrated the importance of developing local capacity within Nigeria’s maritime sector.
“I’m quite happy at what I have seen today after the tour of this 8,000 metric tonnes African Pioneer Specialised Vessel,” he said.
“A vessel such as this flying the Nigerian flag should have priority over any foreign vessel. We are automating the Nigerian ship registry to make it more attractive and to ensure that more vessels like this fly the Nigerian flag.”
Marine Platforms says Cabotage has helped its business
Marine Platforms Limited chief executive officer, Taofeek Adegbite, said his company had benefited from Nigeria’s Cabotage regime and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) Act.
Adegbite said the company had remained proud of operating vessels under the Nigerian flag since acquiring its first vessel, MT African Vision, in 2012.
“We have no regret flying the Nigerian flag and I will invite more ship owners to register their flags in the Nigerian Ship registry.”
— Taofeek Adegbite, Marine Platforms Limited
According to Adegbite, the regulatory framework had contributed to the company securing regular contracts for its vessels.
“Since 2012, when we got our very first vessel Mt. African Vision, we are happy and proud to say NIMASA’s Cabotage Regime and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board Act has played a major role in ensuring that our vessels have contracts on a regular basis,” he said.
He also called for a classification system that would give special consideration to crew members operating very large vessels.
“At the moment we would appreciate a classification in such a way that the crew who are operating very big vessels are given special attention so that more very large vessels can fly the Nigerian flag,” Adegbite said.
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Focus shifts to maritime manpower
Adegbite said the vessel also demonstrated the ability of Nigerian companies and professionals to undertake specialised maritime operations to international standards.
He linked the development of locally owned and operated vessels to opportunities for building Nigeria’s maritime workforce.
The Marine Platforms chief executive cited the Philippines’ global reputation for seafaring and Norway’s prominence in shipbuilding as examples of how countries can develop areas of specialisation within the maritime industry.
He argued that Nigeria could similarly establish a globally recognised area of maritime expertise.
MT African Pioneer Lagos.
Why the Cabotage regime matters
Nigeria’s Cabotage framework was introduced to increase indigenous participation in domestic maritime trade and reduce dependence on foreign operators in coastal and inland shipping activities.
The broader policy objective is to ensure that Nigerian businesses, vessels and maritime professionals have greater opportunities to participate in activities taking place within the country’s waters.
For shipowners, the effectiveness of the regime depends not only on access to contracts but also on issues such as vessel registration, financing, classification, qualified crew and the competitiveness of Nigerian-flagged vessels.
NIMASA’s planned automation of the ship registry is therefore expected by the agency to make registration more attractive and potentially encourage more vessels to operate under the Nigerian flag.
What happens next?
The latest comments point to a continued emphasis on indigenous vessel ownership, Nigerian-flagged operations and maritime manpower development under the current NIMASA administration.
However, the extent to which these measures translate into more contracts for Nigerian operators, increased employment for seafarers and greater participation in specialised offshore operations will depend on implementation and industry conditions.
For companies such as Marine Platforms, the priority is ensuring that Nigerian-owned vessels can compete effectively while developing the personnel and systems needed to operate increasingly sophisticated ships.
Mentees on a ferry safety development and mentoring programme in Lagos have completed a month-long training module focused on marine engine systems and onboard operations.
The fourth module of the programme, held throughout August 2026, combined self-paced learning, expert discussions and practical onboard training to strengthen participants’ understanding of marine engineering and ferry operations.
The programme is being delivered with the involvement of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Interferry and FerrySafe, with support from the Lagos State Government and other stakeholders.
From classroom learning to onboard experience
The first two weeks of the module were devoted to self-paced learning facilitated by Engr Jeremiah Akwemioh, a Nigerian Navy veteran with experience in marine engineering and engine systems.
In the third week, the mentees participated in a virtual “Ask the Expert” session with Joep Bollerman, Vice President of Passenger Ships and Director of the Cruise Ship Center of Expertise at Lloyd’s Register, and Francesco Ruisi, Global Passenger Ship Segment Director at Lloyd’s Register.
The programme then moved from theory to practical training in its fourth week, with participants visiting the MV ONONEZE, an American Bureau of Shipping-classed vessel owned by Fymak Marine & Oil Services Nigeria Ltd.
According to LASWA, the vessel has four Cummins main engines, four propellers and a bow thruster, with a combined output of 5,368 kilowatts, equivalent to about 7,200 brake horsepower.
The practical session allowed the mentees to observe the operation of the vessel’s engines and auxiliary systems, including generators, purifiers, sewage treatment plants, air compressors and piping systems
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Why engine systems matter for ferry safety
Understanding propulsion and auxiliary systems is an important part of safe vessel operation.
Engine-room failures or poor maintenance can affect a vessel’s ability to manoeuvre and operate safely, making technical knowledge an important component of wider ferry safety management.
The practical component of the programme also gives trainees an opportunity to connect classroom instruction with the systems they may encounter during real-world marine operations.
Industry professionals provide practical insight
LASWA credited the management and crew of Fymak Marine & Oil Services for supporting the onboard training.
Those involved included Captain Aniekan Udo, Chief Officer Abiodun Erewa, Chief Engineer Emmanuel Ezekudo and Engr Paul Etarijakpere.
The authority also acknowledged Akwemioh, Bollerman and Ruisi for their roles as facilitator and mentors.
The programme’s organisers said the support of Interferry, including its Director of Conferences and Finance and Executive Sponsor Shari Corrigan, as well as FerrySafe, LASWA, the Lagos State Government and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Blue Economy, Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, had contributed to the capacity-building effort.
What comes next
The programme will move to its fifth module in September, with a focus on Safety Management Systems.
LASWA said the module will be led by Mike Corrigan, Chief Executive Officer of Interferry, giving participants the opportunity to learn about ferry safety management directly from the organisation’s leader.
The latest training comes as Lagos continues to develop its waterways as part of the state’s wider blue economy strategy, making professional training and safety standards increasingly important to the future of water transportation.
For more information, LASWA said members of the public can contact its communication channels on 0700 CALL LASWA or 08090129777, or through its social media handle, @talktolaswa.
APM Terminals has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore the development of the proposed Badagry Deep-Seaport in Lagos, in what the Federal Government says could expand Nigeria’s deepwater port capacity and strengthen its position in West African trade.
The agreement was signed in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Monday, 7 September 2026, during a visit by Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, who led a Federal Government delegation to the country.
The MoU commits the parties to exclusive negotiations over the proposed greenfield port, with APM Terminals expressing its commitment to taking the project forward.
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Why the Badagry port matters
The proposed port is expected to provide additional deepwater capacity for Nigeria and accommodate larger container vessels than some existing facilities can handle.
It could also create new opportunities for transshipment, allowing cargo destined for other West and Central African markets to be handled through Nigeria.
The government says the project would complement existing port infrastructure and support increased cargo volumes while improving the resilience of supply chains.
APM Terminals said developing Badagry could also help ease congestion associated with ports located within the city.
“Developing Badagry as a greenfield project will further ease congestions in city ports and further open new opportunities.
— Igor van den Essen, APM Terminals
*CAPTION*
L–R: Group Chief Executive Officer, A.P. Moller–Maersk, Vincent Clerc; Managing Director, Badagry Port Development Limited, Didi Ndiomu; Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola; and Managing Director, Africa & Europe, APM Terminals, Igor van den Essen, at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the development of the Badagry Deep-Seaport in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Monday, September 7, 2026.
APM Terminals explores further Nigerian investment
The Badagry discussions formed part of wider maritime and investment engagements between Nigeria and Denmark.
Oyetola and his delegation held meetings with senior Danish government officials and representatives of the country’s maritime industry as Nigeria seeks to attract more private-sector investment into port infrastructure.
The minister said the government was focused on modernising maritime infrastructure and creating conditions for long-term investment.
“Our engagement in Denmark underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to modernizing Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure and unlocking the full potential of our blue economy. Partnering with global terminal operators like APM Terminals to explore strategic greenfield developments such as the Badagry Port is central to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of positioning Nigeria as West Africa’s premier trade and logistics hub,” Oyetola said.
The parties also discussed possible extensions to APM Terminals’ existing port concessions at the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, and the West Africa Container Terminal (WACT) in Onne.
What APM Terminals says
APM Terminals’ Managing Director for Africa and Europe, Igor van den Essen, said the company saw long-term investment in Nigeria’s port infrastructure as part of efforts to support the country’s economic growth.
“APM Terminals is keen to contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth and position as a trade hub in West Africa. We believe further investing long-term in our concessions in Apapa and Onne helps doing that, and we were pleased to have a constructive dialogue about this today. Additionally, developing Badagry as a greenfield project will further ease congestions in city ports and further open new opportunities,” he said.
Van den Essen also welcomed the Federal Government’s plans to expand trade and attract investment.
“APM Terminals is encouraged by the Nigerian government’s ambition to expand trade, attract investment, and strengthen the country’s position as a leading maritime gateway in West Africa, and we are proud to play a part in that ambition. We strongly believe that public-private partnerships help us deliver results that support growth because they drive long-term investment, a better business environment and, thereby, competitiveness in a rapidly developing market,” he said.
Badagry project enters a new phase
Didi Ndiomu, Managing Director of Badagry Port Development Limited, described the agreement with APM Terminals as the start of a new phase for the proposed project.
“Investing in maritime infrastructure and especially in Badagry as a greenfield port project together with APM Terminals is the beginning of Nigeria becoming the true maritime capital of sub-Saharan Africa in full alignment with the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ambitious maritime growth strategy,” Ndiomu said.
The proposed deep-seaport is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s wider port network by providing facilities for larger container vessels and supporting higher cargo volumes.
It is also projected to increase Nigeria’s ability to serve as a regional transshipment hub, potentially allowing the country to handle cargo moving to markets across West and Central Africa.
What happens next?
The MoU does not by itself amount to the completion of the port project. Instead, it provides a framework for exclusive negotiations between the parties to explore its development.
The next stages will determine the project’s commercial, technical and investment arrangements before construction and operations can proceed.
For Nigeria’s maritime sector, the proposed Badagry development comes as the government seeks to expand port capacity, attract private investment and improve the country’s role in regional trade.
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