The Secretary-General of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), Dr. Paul Adalikwu, has explained the reasons the sub-regional body actively campaigned for Nigeria’s return to the Council of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
Adalikwu described the country’s 14-year absence from the council as a major setback, noting that Nigeria’s presence is vital to advancing the maritime interests of the West and Central African sub-region.
While congratulating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, on the election, the MOWCA SG noted that Nigeria’s volume of maritime trade and the impact of the country’s stake holding in the Gulf of Guinea makes it a critical part of the African maritime ecosystem.
He identified the increased interest of the Nigerian government in maritime activities with the creation of a dedicated ministry for marine and blue economy by President Tinubu as a deliberate move to reinforce the country’s position as a maritime country.
According to him, MOWCA sees Nigeria as one capable of speaking for other maritime countries in West and Central Africa considering the country’s deep involvement in multimodal logistics for trade, linking rail to Abuja airport; linking rail to the Apapa Port in Lagos, having dry ports in Kaduna, Kano, Katsina with more coming up in other parts of the country
He said as a multilateral organisation, he committed to ensuring that all MOWCA member countries and it’s international allies outside of the Africa continent voted for Nigeria.
He recalled that MOWCA delegations visited several countries within and outside Africa soliciting for their support and received assurances that Nigeria will get more votes than it had gotten in the last 7 attempts where the country couldn’t make it into the IMO council
He further described Nigeria’s victory as a win for all MOWCA member countries as they would now enjoy a greater representation in the IMO’s executive organ between Assembly sessions and effectively steers the organization’s work programme, budget, and policy direction.
Speaking on the benefits of being on the IMO Council Adalkwu said Nigeria would be able to join in Influencing global shipping rules and play direct role in approving the IMO’s work programme and strategic plan which shapes or blocks new regulations for the next two years.
The victory, according to Adalkwu also opens opportunities to place national experts of council member countries in key committees, protect national shipping fleets and registries from unfavourable regulations and defending their flag state interests where global maritime decisions are being taken
He added that Nigeria’s seat would also secure technical assistance, training opportunities and funding from IMO’s Technical Cooperation programme while also boosting the country’s diplomatic prestige with global networking opportunities amongst peer maritime nations.
Nigeria ,according to the SG,now has access to information and early warning first-hand knowledge of upcoming regulatory proposals with ability to prepare the nation’s maritime industry and MOWCA member states well in advance
Dr. Adalikwu thanked all member states as well as the governments of Indonesia and Singapore for supporting MOWCA’s campaign in ensuring Nigeria’s victory
He also congratulated Liberia, another MOWCA country that clinched a Category A seat on the IMO council.
