Nigeria Minister Urges Ratification Of Maritime Conventions In Cote d’Ivoire

In a gathering of maritime leaders from across the West and Central African region, the Vice Chairman of the Abuja Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control for West and Central Africa (Abuja MoU), His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola, emphasized the need for member states to ratify and domesticate critical maritime instruments.

The 13th Port State Control Committee Meeting of the Abuja MoU, hosted by the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire in Abidjan, served as a platform for discussions on enhancing regional collaboration for effective port state control.

Speaking at the event, Minister Adegboyega Oyetola, who also holds the portfolio of the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, urged member states to commit to the full ratification and domestication of relevant maritime conventions.

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He stressed the importance of maintaining safe, secure, and environmentally friendly maritime domains, including compliance with the requirement for member states to inspect at least 15 percent of vessels calling at their ports.

Mr Oyetola also highlighted the significance of recruiting and training Port State Control officers to ensure the smooth enforcement of maritime regulations and the prevention of substandard vessels from trading within the region.

Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh, reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to the effective implementation of regulatory instruments in the maritime sector.

He noted that Nigeria had ratified six international maritime conventions, covering areas such as training standards, pollution management, and passenger luggage carriage by sea.

Among the ratified conventions mentioned was the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships 2009, the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel (STCW-F) 1995, and the Protocol Relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Oil Pollution Casualties (Intervention Protocol) 1973, among others.

Captain Sunday Umoren, Secretary General of the Abuja MoU, informed attendees of ongoing engagement sessions to foster regional collaboration and achieve globally acceptable Port State Control standards in the West and Central Africa region.

Discussions during the meeting also encompassed member states’ performance in PSC inspections and their financial status. The event also welcomed Women in Maritime West in their observer status capacity, underscoring the commitment to inclusivity in the maritime industry.