By Seun Ibiyemi
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening bilateral maritime cooperation, improving regional maritime governance, and advancing the sustainable development of the Blue Economy across West Africa.
L-R: Ag. Director, Legal Division, Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), Ms. Georgina Nyadia; Director General, GMA Dr. Kamal-Deen Ali; Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola; Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, NIMASA, Mr. Jibril Abba; Director, Legal Services Department, NIMASA, Mr. Heaky Dimowo at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NIMASA and the GMA at the headquarters of NIMASA in Lagos.
The agreement, signed in Lagos, is expected to deepen collaboration between the two maritime administrations in areas including maritime safety and security, mutual recognition of Certificates of Competency (CoC), institutional capacity building, knowledge sharing, comparative research, joint enforcement initiatives, and coordinated engagement at international maritime forums.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, commended Ghana for its support during Nigeria’s successful re-election to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Category C Council.
He said the enduring relationship between both countries has continued to promote maritime development within the region.
Mobereola described the MoU as a practical framework for enhanced cooperation, stressing that its success would depend on effective implementation and measurable outcomes.
“We will continue to work together to grow our economies and make the maritime sector safer.
This Memorandum of Understanding is a commitment to do better. NIMASA will fully play its part in implementing the agreement, while both institutions must establish annual implementation agendas to monitor progress and deliver tangible results,” he said.
He noted that as two of the leading maritime nations in West Africa, Nigeria and Ghana share the responsibility of shaping the future of maritime development in the region.
L-R: Ag. Director, Legal Division, Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), Ms. Georgina Nyadia; the Director General, GMA Dr. Kamal-Deen Ali; Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola and Director, Legal Services Department, NIMASA, Mr. Heaky Dimowo at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NIMASA and the GMA at the headquarters of NIMASA in Lagos.
According to him, the partnership should extend beyond the interests of both countries by fostering broader regional collaboration capable of unlocking the vast economic opportunities within the Blue Economy.
Under the agreement, both maritime administrations will establish a Joint Consultative Team (JCT) responsible for developing action plans, coordinating implementation, and monitoring agreed programmes through designated focal persons.
The team is expected to meet twice annually, with meetings alternating between Nigeria and Ghana to assess progress and strengthen bilateral cooperation.
NIMASA said the MoU would enhance maritime governance, strengthen institutional capacity, promote evidence-based policymaking through comparative research, improve regulatory effectiveness, and reinforce collaborative efforts to combat piracy, armed robbery at sea, and maritime terrorism, particularly in the Gulf of Guinea.
Also speaking, the Director General of the Ghana Maritime Authority, Dr. Kamal-Deen Ali, described the agreement as another milestone in the long-standing relationship between the two maritime institutions.
Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola (right) and the Director General, Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) Dr. Kamal-Deen Ali; displaying a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NIMASA and the GMA after the signing at the headquarters of NIMASA in Lagos.
He acknowledged Nigeria’s leadership in the regional maritime sector, noting that Ghana has benefited from several Nigerian maritime initiatives, including the country’s Cabotage regime, ship registry, and regulatory frameworks.
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“This Memorandum of Understanding consolidates an already mutually beneficial relationship. Ghana remains fully committed to implementing every aspect of the agreement as we continue to learn from one another and work together to strengthen maritime administration across the region,” he said.
The signing of the MoU reflects the shared commitment of Nigeria and Ghana to promoting regional integration, strengthening maritime safety and security, and driving sustainable economic growth through enhanced institutional collaboration.
