Joyce Mmereole Okoli
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) have strengthened regional maritime cooperation with the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing maritime safety and security, deepening institutional collaboration, and accelerating the sustainable development of the Blue Economy across West Africa.
The agreement, signed in Lagos, establishes a comprehensive framework for both maritime administrations to jointly address regional maritime challenges while promoting economic growth through stronger cooperation.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Director General of NIMASA, Dayo Mobereola, commended Ghana for its unwavering support during Nigeria’s successful re-election to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Category C Council, describing the gesture as a reflection of the enduring partnership between both countries.
Mobereola said the MoU represents more than a ceremonial agreement, stressing that it provides a practical roadmap for advancing maritime governance through collaboration in maritime safety and security, mutual recognition of Certificates of Competency (CoC), institutional capacity building, knowledge exchange, comparative research, joint enforcement operations, and coordinated engagement at regional and international maritime platforms.
He emphasized that the success of the partnership would depend on measurable implementation and sustained commitment from both institutions.
“Nigeria and Ghana share a common vision for a safer, more prosperous maritime sector. This Memorandum of Understanding is our commitment to translate that vision into concrete action. NIMASA is fully committed to implementing every aspect of this agreement, and together we must establish annual implementation plans that will enable us to monitor progress, evaluate our achievements, and deliver tangible benefits to our people and the maritime industry,” Mobereola stated.
The NIMASA Director General noted that as two of West Africa’s leading maritime nations, Nigeria and Ghana have a collective responsibility to drive maritime transformation across the region.
According to him, the partnership should extend beyond bilateral cooperation to serve as a catalyst for greater regional integration capable of unlocking the immense opportunities within the Blue Economy while strengthening maritime governance throughout West and Central Africa.
As part of the agreement, both agencies will establish a Joint Consultative Team (JCT) comprising designated focal persons responsible for developing implementation strategies, coordinating joint programmes, and monitoring progress. The team will meet twice annually, with meetings rotating between Nigeria and Ghana to assess achievements, review ongoing initiatives, and identify new areas of cooperation.
The MoU is expected to strengthen institutional capacity, improve maritime governance, enhance evidence-based policymaking through collaborative research, boost regulatory efficiency, and reinforce coordinated efforts to combat piracy, armed robbery at sea, and maritime terrorism within the Gulf of Guinea.
In his remarks, the Director General of the Ghana Maritime Authority, Kamal-Deen Ali, described the agreement as a major milestone in the long-standing relationship between the two maritime administrations.
He acknowledged Nigeria’s leadership in maritime development across the region, revealing that Ghana has benefited significantly from Nigeria’s experience in areas such as the Cabotage regime, ship registry administration, and maritime regulatory reforms.
“This Memorandum of Understanding formalises and strengthens an already productive relationship between our institutions. Ghana remains fully committed to the successful implementation of this agreement, and we look forward to learning from one another as we work together to build a stronger, safer, and more efficient maritime sector for our region,” Ali said.