The strategically timed luncheon, held in the IMO’s elegant Delegates’ Lounge overlooking the river, drew an impressive turnout of more than 150 member states’ delegations, including ambassadors, permanent representatives, alternate representatives, and senior maritime administrators. For Nigeria, the event represented the climax of an intense, multi-year campaign to secure one of the coveted 20 seats in Category C of the 40-member IMO Council – the executive organ responsible for supervising the work of the world’s foremost maritime regulatory body.
Speaking with measured confidence before the assembled diplomats, Minister Oyetola presented Nigeria not merely as an aspirant but as an established maritime power whose track record speaks louder than campaign rhetoric. “We come to you not with promises alone,” he declared, “but with proven results that have already changed the face of global seaborne trade, particularly in West and Central Africa.”
Central to Nigeria’s pitch was its dramatic transformation of maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea, a region that, less than a decade ago, accounted for the overwhelming majority of global piracy and armed robbery incidents at sea. Drawing on authoritative statistics from the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), the Minister revealed that Nigeria has recorded zero piracy attacks within its territorial waters and exclusive economic zone for four consecutive years – an achievement virtually unprecedented in modern maritime history for a nation previously labelled the world’s piracy hotspot.
This remarkable turnaround, Oyetola explained, was the direct outcome of visionary leadership and massive investment in the Integrated National Maritime Security Infrastructure Project, popularly known as the Deep Blue Project. The multibillion-naira initiative, which encompasses fast-intervention vessels, maritime domain awareness systems, specially trained marine units, and a fleet of armoured vehicles, aircraft, and C4i command centres, has not only neutralised pirate mother ships but has also fostered unprecedented regional cooperation under the Yaoundé Architecture with neighbouring countries.
The ripple effects have been global: insurance premiums for vessels calling at Nigerian ports have plummeted, shipping lines have resumed direct services previously suspended, and seafarers once reluctant to sail West African waters now do so with renewed confidence. “When ships sail safely, economies grow and people prosper,” the Minister emphasised, adding that Nigeria’s success story offers a replicable model for other regions grappling with maritime crime.
Beyond security, Nigeria showcased its growing leadership in environmental stewardship and sustainable blue economy development. Delegates were reminded of the country’s aggressive implementation of IMO conventions on ballast water management, anti-fouling systems, and the forthcoming carbon intensity measures. Port modernisation efforts under the Nigerian Ports Authority, the ongoing automation of processes to reduce ship turnaround time, and the development of new deep-sea ports at Lekki and Bonny were all highlighted as evidence of a nation aligning its maritime sector with global best practices.
Dr Oyetola further underlined the creation of the dedicated Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in 2023 as a structural game-changer that has elevated ocean-related issues to the highest levels of government policymaking. From harnessing offshore renewable energy to promoting sustainable fisheries and mangrove restoration projects, Nigeria is positioning itself as a forward-thinking maritime nation ready to bring African perspectives to the IMO Council table.
In a poignant moment that resonated deeply with the audience, the Minister extended Nigeria’s heartfelt solidarity to Caribbean nations and the Philippines, recently devastated by a series of powerful hurricanes and typhoons. “As fellow maritime and island communities, we share your pain and stand ready to support recovery efforts,” he said, reinforcing the human dimension of global maritime cooperation.
Closing his address on an inspirational note, Oyetola invoked the unifying power of the oceans: “The seas unite us far more than they divide us. Let us therefore work together – in trust, in friendship, and in shared responsibility – to build a safer, cleaner, and more prosperous maritime future for all.”
As delegates raised glasses in a series of warm toasts, the atmosphere was one of genuine goodwill. Numerous ambassadors and heads of delegation were seen engaging the Nigerian team in animated conversations, with several privately expressing strong support for Nigeria’s candidacy.
With voting set to commence on Friday, 28 November 2025, during the 35th IMO Assembly, Nigeria’s campaign appears to have hit its stride at precisely the right moment. Having already secured endorsements from the African Union, the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), and many individual member states across continents, the London reception has injected fresh momentum into what has been one of the most professional and substantive campaigns ever mounted by an African nation for an IMO Council seat.
If successful, Nigeria’s election would mark only the second time in the organisation’s 75-year history that the country occupies a seat in Category C – the category reserved for nations with the largest interest in international seaborne trade. More importantly, it would cement Nigeria’s emergence as a respected voice shaping the future of global maritime governance, from decarbonisation and digitalisation to safety and security.
As the IMO headquarters gradually emptied into the crisp London evening, one message echoed clearly: Nigeria is not merely asking for a seat at the table – it is ready to help set the agenda for the entire maritime world in the decades ahead.
