The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, has challenged staff of the agency to consolidate recent achievements and adopt a more disciplined, performance-driven approach to delivering further progress in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
Mobereola gave the charge during a two-day Senior Management Strategy Session on the NIMASA Medium-Term Strategic Plan (September 2025–August 2028) held at the Nigeria Maritime Resource Development Centre, Apapa, Lagos.
The NIMASA boss highlighted several major achievements recorded under the supervision of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, including four consecutive years without piracy incidents in Nigerian waters, Nigeria’s election into Category C of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) after 14 years, and the lifting of the 12-year Condition of Entry imposed by the United States Coast Guard on vessels originating from Nigerian ports and destined for the United States.
Mobereola, however, warned staff against becoming complacent, insisting that sustaining the gains would require stronger accountability and measurable performance.
“Sustaining and building on these gains requires a more disciplined, performance-driven approach, and the decisions we take here will not only shape our internal processes but also impact the broader trajectory of Nigeria’s maritime sector,” he said.
The NIMASA DG also pointed to Nigeria’s growing dominance in the Gulf of Guinea maritime space, noting that the country currently accounts for more than 47 per cent of all port calls in the region.
He urged senior management staff participating in the strategy session to be frank about existing challenges, focus on priorities capable of delivering measurable impact and take ownership of agreed outcomes.
“Be sincere in discussing your current realities, focused in prioritising the areas that truly move the needle and what we need to do to make progress in those areas, as well as being accountable to ensure that every outcome from this session must translate into clear ownership, timelines, and measurable results,” Mobereola said.
He described the strategy session as an opportunity for constructive engagement, urging participants to deploy their collective expertise towards developing practical solutions for the agency.
“The strength of this Agency lies in our collective expertise, and we must leverage that fully,” he added.
NIMASA Unveils Reform Drive
Mobereola said the agency was undergoing what he described as one of the most transformative periods in its history, stressing that ongoing reforms were designed to fundamentally change its operations and strengthen Nigeria’s international maritime reputation.
He listed the automation of the Ship Registry, review of the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW), disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) and automation of the agency’s workflow system among initiatives expected to reshape NIMASA.
“We are not merely improving processes; we are building a new foundation for efficiency, transparency, innovation and international recognition,” the DG said.
The Senior Management Strategy Session is periodically organised by NIMASA to review the agency’s strategic direction, reaffirm priorities and strengthen implementation of its statutory mandate in line with the ministerial deliverables of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
