MARITIME SECURITY: NIMASA, NIGERIAN NAVY RENEW MoU TO STRENGTHEN COLLABORATION …As Mobereola Commends Oyetola’s Commitment to Inter-Agency Cooperation, Maritime Safety and Security

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Navy have renewed their strategic partnership with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) designed to strengthen maritime security, enhance safety and deepen coordinated enforcement across Nigeria’s maritime domain.

The agreement was signed at the Nigerian Navy Headquarters, Abuja, by the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, and the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas.

The renewed agreement marks a significant milestone in the longstanding relationship between the two institutions and represents the first formal renewal of their partnership since the original MoU was signed in 2007.

Under the new framework, NIMASA and the Nigerian Navy will intensify collaboration in the promotion and maintenance of maritime security, while strengthening the implementation of the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences (SPOMO) Act, the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, and other relevant maritime laws and regulations within NIMASA’s statutory mandate.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, the NIMASA Director General, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, commended the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for his strong commitment to inter-agency collaboration, describing it as a critical pillar of maritime security and the sustainable development of Nigeria’s Blue Economy.

Mobereola said the renewed MoU would provide a stronger institutional framework for both organisations to discharge their respective statutory mandates more effectively, while consolidating the gains already recorded in securing Nigeria’s maritime space.

He added that stronger cooperation between NIMASA and the Nigerian Navy would contribute significantly to the realisation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s vision for a prosperous and sustainable Blue Economy.

According to him, the agreement would also strengthen the country’s capacity to respond to emerging maritime security threats through improved coordination, intelligence and information sharing, joint operational engagement and more effective inter-agency response mechanisms.

“As we renew this partnership today, I urge our respective teams to ensure that the spirit of this agreement translates into practical and measurable outcomes,” Mobereola said.

The NIMASA helmsman expressed appreciation to the Chief of the Naval Staff and the Nigerian Navy for their continued support and commitment to deepening cooperation between the two institutions.

In his remarks, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, described the signing as a major milestone in the enduring relationship between the Nigerian Navy and NIMASA.

He said the new agreement contained important provisions aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s collective response to the evolving nature of maritime security challenges.

One of the key provisions, he explained, is the integration of the Deep Blue Project into the collaborative framework, providing a stronger basis for cooperation between the Nigerian Navy’s Maritime Guard Command and the project.

Vice Admiral Abbas also highlighted the introduction of a joint reporting protocol for communication and information sharing during operations. He said the mechanism would facilitate timely decision-making, enhance situational awareness and promote a more coordinated response to maritime incidents.

He further welcomed provisions for greater institutional engagement, including an annual conference designed to strengthen collaboration, review progress, identify operational gaps and address emerging maritime security challenges.

Emphasising the strategic importance of the maritime sector to Nigeria’s economy, Vice Admiral Abbas said:

“Whether we like it or not, the water is where we get whatever we are getting—our revenue, everything—and even the trade we engage in, in large percentages, is done through the water. So this institution has to be very strong.”

The renewed MoU is expected to deepen operational cooperation between NIMASA and the Nigerian Navy in critical areas including maritime security, intelligence and information sharing, coordinated responses to maritime incidents, joint enforcement operations and the implementation of applicable maritime laws.

Beyond security, the agreement reinforces the commitment of both institutions to creating a safer, more secure and investment-friendly maritime environment capable of supporting Nigeria’s international trade, economic growth and Blue Economy ambitions.

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