Nigeria wins IMO Council seat after 14 years of attempts

By Steve Agbota

Nigeria recorded a historic victory on Friday, as the country was elected into Category C of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council for the 2026–2027 biennium.

The election, held during the IMO General Assembly in London, marks Nigeria’s triumphant return to the Council after a 14-year absence, restoring the nation to global reckoning among the comity of maritime nations.

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, who led Nigeria’s campaign, said the victory crowns over twelve months of intensive diplomacy shuttles, targeted engagements and sustained advocacy across various countries and maritime blocs.

Speaking moments after the results were declared, Dr. Oyetola described Nigeria’s election as a landmark endorsement of the renewed confidence the world has in Nigeria under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“This victory is not just for Nigeria; it is a vote of confidence in our maritime reforms, our security efforts in the Gulf of Guinea, and the bold vision of His Excellency President Tinubu to unlock the full potential of the blue economy,” he added.

The minister emphasised that the election represents a major boost to Nigeria’s profile in global maritime governance.

“Our return to the IMO Council after 14 years, signals that Nigeria is back stronger, more strategic and more determined to contribute meaningfully to shaping the future of global shipping, maritime safety and sustainable ocean governance. We worked tirelessly, travelling across continents, building bridges and reaffirming Nigeria’s readiness to take up this responsibility,” he said.

He expressed profound appreciation to President Tinubu for providing the full support that made the campaign successful despite the highly competitive nature of the election.

With this election, Nigeria joins 19 other nations in Category C – countries recognised for their special interests in maritime transport and navigation and selected to ensure balanced geographical representation within the IMO Council.