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From Idu Jude, Abuja
Nigeria’s campaign for a seat on the Council of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) received a major boost on Thursday as the Swiss government formally endorsed the country’s bid for the category ‘C’ seat in the upcoming biennium elections.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, received the letter of support from Switzerland’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Patrick Egloff during a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja.
Oyetola described the endorsement as “a testament to the hard work and dedication of the Federal Government to upholding international standards,” noting that Nigeria’s election into the Council would strengthen global efforts toward a more robust and sustainable maritime industry.
Highlighting Nigeria’s vast maritime resources, Oyetola explained: “Nigeria has 200 nautical miles of exclusive economic zone, which has been extended by another 16,300 kilometres to the Continental Shelf. With such endowment, Nigeria, by any standard, is supposed to be a maritime nation.”
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He disclosed that the ministry, in partnership with the World Bank, AU-IBAR, the Kingdom of Norway and other stakeholders, has developed a National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy designed to stand the test of time. According to him, the Federal Government is also leveraging a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to attract investment into inland waterways, boat supply, dredging, and navigation projects, while holding only token equity in ventures to spur growth.
On maritime safety and security, the Minister pointed to the success of the Deep Blue Project, Nigeria’s integrated surveillance system. “The Deep Blue project has assisted us in keeping our waters very safe. There’s been no piracy for the past three years, and we’re trying to sustain that. We also extend this safety framework to the Gulf of Guinea as part of our collaboration with other countries,” he assured.
Ambassador Egloff, who presented the Swiss government’s letter of endorsement, said the decision was in response to an earlier request from the ministry. “I’m very glad to convey this letter of support. Switzerland is very happy to support you; you’re a very strong candidate. We support your candidacy, your commitment to multilateralism overall, and in particular in this field you bring. You’re a very important country,” he stated.
Switzerland’s backing adds significant momentum to Nigeria’s IMO Council bid, ahead of the elections scheduled for October/November this year.
