How can African countries protect the maritime routes on which their trade, energy exports and economic partnerships depend? Nigeria’s engagement with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) offers an opportunity to place African maritime security experience within the wider international conversation on safer shipping and stronger regional cooperation.
Nigeria presented its experience in addressing maritime insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea through the Deep Blue Project during discussions surrounding the 138th session of the IMO Council in London, held from 2 to 6 November 2026.
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Led by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, the Nigerian delegation participated in deliberations covering international shipping, maritime security, seafarers’ welfare and the protection of vital global shipping lanes.
The engagement is significant for a region whose economic prospects are closely connected to the safety of its waters. The Gulf of Guinea is an important maritime corridor for international commerce, connecting African producers and consumers to global markets. Threats such as piracy, armed robbery at sea and other maritime crimes can increase shipping risks, disrupt commercial operations and undermine investor confidence.
Nigeria’s Deep Blue Project was developed as a coordinated response to maritime insecurity. It brings together maritime, aerial and land-based assets with surveillance and operational capabilities to support security operations across Nigeria’s maritime domain.
Its significance lies in the recognition that maritime security cannot be addressed through isolated interventions. Effective protection requires coordination among security agencies, reliable information-sharing, capable institutions and cooperation between neighbouring coastal states.
At the IMO Council session, Nigeria’s contribution was linked to the need for stronger international cooperation, improved protection for seafarers and more effective responses to security threats affecting commercial vessels.
Oyetola also emphasised the importance of safeguarding seafarers’ rights, including preventing arbitrary detention and abandonment, supporting safe repatriation and protecting their mental well-being. These concerns reflect a broader understanding that the future of international shipping depends not only on secure vessels and trade routes, but also on the safety and dignity of the people working at sea.
Nigeria’s participation also carries institutional significance. The country sits on the IMO Council as a Category C member, one of 40 members elected to represent states with special interests in maritime transport and navigation. Its participation provides an avenue to contribute to international maritime policy and advance the interests of developing maritime nations.
For Africa, the discussion has implications beyond Nigeria’s national maritime interests. Coastal economies depend on secure ports, predictable shipping operations and reliable maritime infrastructure to sustain trade, attract investment and strengthen regional integration.
The African Continental Free Trade Area also increases the importance of efficient transport and logistics networks. As countries seek to expand intra-African trade, maritime security will remain essential to moving goods safely, reducing commercial risks and connecting regional production centres to international markets.
However, presenting a security framework internationally is only one part of the task. Sustained progress requires transparent performance measurement, continued investment in maritime capabilities, effective prosecution of maritime crimes and deeper cooperation among Gulf of Guinea states.
Nigeria’s engagement at the IMO therefore provides an opportunity to advance a wider African position: that maritime security is not merely a national enforcement issue, but an essential foundation for trade, economic resilience and sustainable development.
The long-term objective should be a Gulf of Guinea in which safer waters support stronger commerce, more competitive ports and greater confidence in Africa’s role in global shipping.
