By Seun Ibiyemi
Nigeria on Friday, 28th November 2025, secured a landmark victory as the country was elected into Category C of the International Maritime Organization (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’s global standing among leading maritime nations.
The Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, who led Nigeria’s intensive year-long campaign, described the outcome as “a landmark endorsement of the renewed confidence the world has in Nigeria under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
According to the Minister, the victory represents the culmination of over twelve months of sustained diplomatic engagements, high-level negotiations, and strategic outreach to maritime blocs and member states across continents.
“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,” Oyetola said shortly after the results were announced.
He noted that Nigeria’s return to the IMO Council signals a major boost to the country’s visibility and influence in global maritime governance.
“Our return to the IMO Council after fourteen 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,” he stated.
“We worked tirelessly, travelling across continents, building bridges and reaffirming Nigeria’s readiness to take up this responsibility.”
The Minister expressed profound appreciation to President Tinubu, whom he credited with providing the full backing necessary for the successful campaign.
“Mr President gave us every encouragement, every backing and every resource we needed to prosecute this campaign. His leadership opened doors and inspired immense goodwill from across the world,” he said.
Oyetola also extended gratitude to the international maritime community for supporting Nigeria, noting that the results underscore the global trust in the maritime reforms being implemented by the Tinubu administration.
“The world has stood with us, and we do not take this for granted. Nigeria will serve with integrity, commitment and a strong sense of responsibility,” he pledged.
He further commended the Technical Committee of Experts chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Olufemi Oloruntola, for their meticulous planning, strategic coordination and unwavering dedication throughout the campaign process.
With this election, Nigeria now joins 19 other nations in Category C — a bloc reserved for countries with special interests in maritime transport and navigation, ensuring balanced geographical representation within the IMO Council. The elected states include Bahamas, Belgium, Cyprus, Chile, Egypt, Finland, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and South Africa.
Countries elected into Category B, representing major players in international seaborne trade, are Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United Arab Emirates.
Category A, comprising the world’s leading providers of international shipping services, includes China, Greece, Italy, Japan, Liberia, Norway, Panama, Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Nigeria’s return to the IMO Council is expected to unlock significant opportunities for the country’s maritime and blue economy sectors, including enhanced international partnerships, improved access to technical support, greater investor confidence and strengthened leadership in regional maritime security, particularly within the Gulf of Guinea.
“We have earned the world’s confidence. Now we must deepen our reforms, strengthen our institutions and ensure that Nigeria takes its rightful place as a leading maritime nation,” Oyetola affirmed.