Nigeria reiterates need for ratification of maritime conventions

By Abiodun OBA

The Vice-Chairman of the Abuja MoU and Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has charged member states on the need to fully ratify and domesticate all relevant maritime instruments.

Oyetola spoke at the 13th Port State Control Committee meeting of the Abuja Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control for West and Central African Region (Abuja MoU), hosted by the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire in Abidjan.

The minister reiterated the need to achieve full ratification and domestication of all relevant instruments; compliance with the requirement for member states to inspect at least 15 percent of vessels calling at their ports.

Oyetola further emphasised the need for regulators and stakeholders in member states to ensure maritime domains remain safe, secure, and environmentally friendly.

In the same token, the Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Bashir Jamoh, noted that the maritime administration in Nigeria is committed to effective implementation of regulatory instruments in Nigeria.

The NIMASA boss noted that the agency as Nigeria’s maritime administrator has ensured the ratification of not less than six international maritime conventions for proper governance of the country’s maritime space.

“These ratified conventions spell out proper mode of governance for various areas such as standards of training, certification and watch-keeping for the fishing sector, pollution management and carriage of passenger luggage by sea.”

On his part, the Secretary General Abuja MoU, Captain Sunday Umoren assured of continuous engagement to ensure regional collaboration to attain globally acceptable port state control in West and Central Africa regions.

The performance of member states on PSC Inspections, and financial status amongst others formed part of the deliberations. Women in Maritime West attended the event (WIMOWCA) in observer status capacity.