As Nigeria once again clinches the Category C Seat at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) urges the Nigerian media to imbibe international standards in their reportage in order to keep Nigeria glowing in the comity of world maritime economies
By Innocent Chukwu
Again, Nigeria has secured election into the Category C of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council for the 2026–2027 tenure, hence winning a seat it last held 14 years ago. Nigeria’s success at the election last November has marked a diplomatic boost for the West African maritime bloc.
The voting took place on Friday, November 28, 2025 in London, United Kingdom during the IMO General Assembly, where member states elected new representatives across all the three voting categories.
The Nigerian delegation was led by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, who has been courting the support of other countries in the past one year through bilateral visits, maritime forums and regional alliances.
Minister Oyetola described the victory as a “landmark endorsement” of Nigeria’s maritime reforms and a signal of growing international confidence under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He said the renewed mandate reflected the recognition of Nigeria’s security progress in the Gulf of Guinea and ongoing efforts to unlock opportunities within the blue economy.
After the votes were counted and victory declared for Nigeria, Oyetola said, “This victory is not just for Nigeria; it is a vote of confidence in our reforms and our commitment to global maritime priorities.”
Instructively, Nigeria last occupied a seat in the prestigious C category at the Council in 2011, and its return to the Council after many years is viewed in official circles as a step towards strengthening the country’s influence in the global maritime setting.
The Minister also disclosed that Nigeria’s campaign for the election which he spearheaded, involved high-level diplomatic engagements across continents, to seek support from maritime blocs and IMO member states.
He thanked President Tinubu for backing the diplomatic push, and said that the government support helped to open doors and secure the goodwill the country needed to succeed.
While acknowledging efforts made by the Technical Committee of Experts, which was chaired by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Olufemi Oloruntola, for coordinating strategy and engagements, Oyetola added that Nigeria has joined 19 other countries in the Category C – the tier that provides geographical balance and represents states with special maritime interests.
Other elected members in the Category include Bahamas, Belgium, Chile, Egypt, Finland, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malta and Mexico. Morocco, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and South Africa also won seat in the category C.
Countries that won seats in the category B include Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). China, Greece, Italy, Japan, Liberia, Norway, Panama, South Korea, the UK and the US retained Category A.
It is important to note that Nigeria’s seat is expected to improve access to technical support, boost investor confidence and expand maritime collaboration within Africa and beyond.
According to Oyetola, “We have earned global confidence. Now we must deepen reforms and build institutions strong enough to sustain this momentum.”
Recall that the port reforms of the NPA undertaken by its current management being led by Dr Abubakar Dantsoho contributed in no small measure to the success of the country in clinching the IMO Seat. In view of the port reforms, the spokesperson of the Authority, Ikechukwu Onyemekara has called on the media to adopt responsible and developmental reporting approach in order to enhance Nigeria’s global maritime image.
The General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications of the NPA, Onyemekara, also urged maritime journalists to embrace reporting style that is capable of projecting Nigeria’s maritime industry positively before the international community.
Onyemekara made the request on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, when he received the three-man Caretaker Committee of the Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (MARAN), led by its Chairman, Mr. Tunde Ayodele, during a courtesy call on the NPA headquarters in Lagos.
While emphasizing journalism ethics built on accuracy, balance and factual reporting, Onyemeekara noted that the industry stands to benefit more from constructive reportage than from negative narratives. He stressed that, with Nigeria preparing for the Category C election at the IMO, the role of the media in shaping international perception has become even more critical.
According to him, “Maritime is a global industry, and whatever journalists write has a significant impact on how the international community views our country. In other climes, journalists highlight the positive strides of their maritime sector, even while managing challenges similar to ours.”
He commended MARAN as the foremost maritime reporters’ body in the sector, describing the association’s longstanding reputation as a valuable asset to the industry. He also expressed NPA’s support for closer cooperation among all media associations covering the maritime sector, noting that unity and professionalism among journalists would further strengthen industry growth.
Onyemekara reaffirmed NPA’s commitment to supporting MARAN, and encouraged the Caretaker Committee to ensure a credible and transparent process that will produce leaders capable of sustaining the association’s legacy. “The kind of leaders you elect could shape the future of the association. It is important that the next leadership builds on the strong foundation already laid,” he said.
On his part, the MARAN Caretaker Committee chairman, Ayodele used the occasion to formally invite the NPA management to the forthcoming MARAN Book Launch scheduled for December 4, 2025, in Lagos—a gesture to which Onyemekara responded positively, assuring that the Authority would be duly represented.
Meanwhile, MARAN has congratulated the Federal Government on Nigeria’s election into the Category C of the IMO Council, describing the victory as a major boost for the nation’s global maritime standing and a strategic win for the blue economy agenda.
In a press statement issued on Friday, November 28 Ayodele said the association received the news of Nigeria’s return to the IMO Council with immense joy, noting that the development reflects the renewed trust of the international community in the country’s maritime reforms and security efforts.
