The International Maritime Institute of Nigeria (IMION) has called on the Federal Government and maritime stakeholders to move beyond the ratification of international maritime treaties to their effective implementation across the nation’s ports, maritime domain, and inland waterways.
The call was made as Nigeria joined the global community to commemorate the 2026 World Maritime Day, themed “From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence.”
In a statement signed on Monday, October 26, 2026, by the Head of Communications and Marketing of IMION, Bashir Ambi, Ph.D., the institute’s Director-General, Rear Admiral Thaddeus Christopher Udofia (rtd.), Ph.D., stressed that the success of maritime policies depended on their translation into practical outcomes through specialised human capacity, effective security, digital optimisation and regulatory discipline.
“Knowledge without execution is a stranded asset,” Udofia said, noting that Nigeria’s maritime progress should be measured by tangible improvements in port operations, security, and logistics rather than the signing of international agreements alone.
He maintained that bridging the gap between policy formulation and operational execution was essential to achieving sustainable maritime excellence and strengthening Nigeria’s position in the global maritime industry.
IMION also congratulated the Federal Government on Nigeria’s return to Category C membership of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council after a 14-year absence, as well as the decision by the United States Coast Guard to lift its 12-year port security restriction, known as the Condition of Entry, on vessels arriving from Nigeria.
The institute attributed these developments to sustained government efforts to improve maritime security, particularly through the multi-agency Deep Blue Project, which, according to the statement, has recorded more than three consecutive years without piracy incidents.
It noted that the achievements had helped restore international confidence in Nigeria’s maritime sector, with the potential to reduce operational complexities and support shippers and other industry stakeholders.
Established by the Nigerian Navy as a research-based centre of excellence and strategic think-tank, IMION has trained more than 500 maritime stakeholders and senior executives across various blue economy disciplines since its inception.
The institute explained that its programmes were designed to strengthen professional competence and equip policymakers, industry leaders, and frontline personnel with the practical skills required to implement maritime policies effectively.
As part of its efforts to promote international best practices, IMION has developed strategic learning and knowledge-sharing relationships with international maritime institutes and academic partners. It has also entered into an operational partnership with the Admiralty University of Nigeria (ADUN) to develop joint executive programmes aimed at translating maritime intelligence and research into practical solutions.
The institute’s initiatives include executive training in strategic leadership for the Centre of Excellence for Blue Economy, alongside efforts to improve port logistics and trade facilitation through stakeholder engagement and a five-year port transformation plan.
In the fisheries sector, IMION is promoting a five-pillar plan to revitalise Nigeria’s fisheries through scientific fish-stock assessments, coastal lagoon cage culture and satellite-based spatial planning, with the objective of supporting food security.
The institute has also organised specialised workshops on maritime security and global trade to address risks affecting critical trade infrastructure in the Gulf of Guinea. Similarly, it has introduced subsidised blue economy training for media practitioners to improve the quality and accuracy of maritime reporting.
On maritime education, IMION stated that it had aligned its professional courses with the latest revisions to the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Convention, preparing Nigerian seafarers for emerging developments in automation, green shipping, and maritime decarbonisation.
The institute reaffirmed its commitment to research, technical training, and evidence-based policymaking as critical tools for translating government directives into measurable results across the maritime sector.
It called for sustained collaboration among government agencies, maritime institutions, academic partners, and private-sector operators to consolidate Nigeria’s recent achievements and advance the country’s ambition of becoming a leading maritime hub in the Gulf of Guinea.
IMION further congratulated the Federal Government and maritime practitioners on the occasion of World Maritime Day 2026, urging all stakeholders to ensure that policy commitments produce practical, lasting benefits for Nigeria’s maritime industry and blue economy.
