By Obiabin Onukwugha
The Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez has expressed readiness to work with the newly appointed Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola.
Dominguez also congratulated Mobereola on his appointment as the on the new DG, NIMASA. This was made known through a post on the official Instagram handle of the agency on Thursday.
It said, in the letter personally signed by him, the IMO Secretary General recognized the strides of the Agency in building a robust maritime sector in Nigeria, adding that the IMO commended the significant effort, initiatives, and investment that Nigeria has made in strengthening its maritime institutions.
The IMO Secretary General also commended the agency’s partnership with the various regional bodies, and expressed readiness of the IMO to work with Nigeria and other member states on many maritime issues with the aim of jointly tackling maritime issues.
Dominguez further noted some of the giant strides Nigeria has made in the maritime industry, which included the Deep Blue project and the C4i Centre as well as maritime piracy laws under the SPOMO Act.
He said these are just some of the many investments that have set a new gold standard in the African region in maritime security capacity building.
He also pointed out that the IMO has been greatly encouraged with the formation and work of the Gulf of Guinea Maritime Collaboration Forum and Shared Awareness and De-confliction (GoG-MCF/SHADE).
The letter read in part; “The focus on strengthening maritime law enforcement and security architecture has been welcomed by seafarers and flag states. The Deep Blue project and the C4i Centre as well as maritime piracy laws under the SPOMO Act are just some of the many investments that have set a new gold standard in the region in maritime security capacity building.
“IMO has long supported the regional role of the Yaoundé Code of Conduct and its Member States in strengthening maritime security and law enforcement.
“In this respect, we have been greatly encouraged with the continuation of this regional ownership with the formation and work of the Gulf of Guinea Maritime Collaboration Forum and Shared Awareness and De-confliction (GoG-MCF/SHADE) in 2021.
“NIMASA’s partnership with the Interregional Coordination Centre (ICC) and the collaboration with the shipping industry, navies and the Yaoundé architecture has been instrumental in suppressing the threat of piracy to merchant vessels and seafarers in line with UN Security Council resolution 2634 (2022) on piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea and IMO Assembly resolution A.1159 (32).
“I look forward to working with you and your colleagues on many of the maritime issues that we are jointly tackling and hope to welcome you in person at the IMO.”