By Foster Obi
Picture: Marine and Blue Economy Minister, Adegboyega Oyetola
As the International Maritime Organization (IMO) convenes its 34th Regular Assembly Session from 24 November to 3 December 2025, Nigeria is again campaigning for a seat in Category C, a group reserved for 20 countries with special maritime interests and balanced geographic representation.
But among seasoned observers, a tough question is resurfacing: Does Nigeria have a realistic chance this time, or is the campaign drifting into another expensive diplomatic jamboree?
The Mountain Nigeria Must Confront:
This year’s Category C race is unusually crowded and competitive. The candidates include:
Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belgium, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, Türkiye.
Of these, 20 are current council members seeking reelection, while Nigeria, Pakistan, Oman, Belgium, South Africa, and Thailand are new challengers hoping to upstage some incumbents.
Many of these states, like Singapore, Denmark, Egypt, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa, are not just maritime nations; they are globally recognized hubs with measurable reforms, high-performing ports, and strong ocean governance track records.
The IMO will elect its 40 Council Members for 2026–2027, with Category C being the fiercest battleground.
Is Nigeria Prepared for a Realistic Contest?
Nigeria is entering a ring filled with countries boasting superior logistics performance metrics, cleaner port systems, stronger fleet ownership, and consistent participation in IMO committees.
Some insiders believe Nigeria’s current campaign strategy relies more on diplomatic charm and less on hard indicators.
Frontline Maritime lawyer and President of Nigerian Maritime Law Association (NMLA), Mrs. Funke Agbor SAN said recently that the campaign for Nigeria’s re-election into Category C of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is a distraction, even as she highlights Nigeria’s inability to fulfill the demands and audit of the IMO carried out in 2016.
At a one day training programme for maritime journalists organised by the International Maritime Institute of Nigeria (IMION) at the Western Naval Command, the maritime lawyer quipped, “The category C election thing is really a distraction, for me it is not a critical issue, it is just visibility and propaganda for Nigeria, and unfortunately, I don’t think that up till now we have done all the things that are required for us to get into category.
There are so many audits that have been made by IMO, and Nigeria was supposed to address these issues that were raised. As of two years ago, these concerns have not been addressed.
For me, the Category C election is a non-issue as far as we are talking about the blue economy and its growth in Nigeria, but good luck to us if we get there.”
A senior official in one West African maritime mission who spoke in anonymity put it bluntly:
“A country is judged based on what it has done at home, not how many receptions it hosts in London.”
Oyetola’s Current Reforms: The Bright Spots
To judge fairly, the administration of Hon. Adegboyega Oyetola, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, has introduced a bit of reforms that Nigeria couldn’t boast of before:
Port Infrastructure Renewal Push
Oyetola has driven a renewal agenda that includes rehabilitation of failed quay aprons in Lagos ports, inland waterways modernization, and renewed attention to dredging channels like the Tin Can–Apapa axis.
A New Emphasis on Blue Economy Structuring
The Minister has reorganized the ministry’s internal architecture to align with global blue-economy frameworks, a structure that did not exist before 2023.
Stronger Inter-Agency Coordination
Under his watch, historical turf wars between NPA, NIMASA, NIWA, and Shippers’ Council have softened. The ministry now chairs a Roundtable on Maritime Reforms bringing chief executives together monthly.
Re-engagement with the IMO Technical System
Oyetola’s team has reactivated Nigeria’s stalled participation in IMO committees, working groups, and conventions, a key factor many countries use to judge seriousness.
But critics say the reforms are early, incomplete, and not yet translating into measurable performance indicators that would impress voting nations.
Where Nigeria Still Falls Short
Port Efficiency and Dwell Time
Average dwell time still hovers above 20 days, far behind Kenya, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, or even Ghana.
Absence of a Coastline Fleet
Despite being Africa’s biggest economy, Nigeria still has no functional national fleet, no cabotage fleet financing impact, and minimal tonnage representation in global registers.
Fragmented Digital Infrastructure
While the Port Community System (PCS) is underway, Nigeria does not yet have a nationwide single window operational, a benchmark already met by many Category C contenders.
High Perception Issues
Incidents of compliance breaches, safety concerns, and maritime insecurity still appear in global indices, even though the real situation has improved in the Gulf of Guinea.
Expert Voices Weigh In
Engr. Omar Suleiman, former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), reflecting a position he has consistently held, reminded stakeholders that IMO voting is based on performance, not promises:
“Countries that demonstrate real improvements in port efficiency and compliance are the ones that stand the best chance at the IMO.”
To broaden the picture, a maritime enthusiast and analyst, Dr. Amaka Owere, offered another angle:
“Nigeria’s narrative is improving, but voting countries ask one question: Where is the evidence? Diplomacy opens the door, but numbers seal the deal.”
Is This Another Jamboree?
Multiple observers fear that Nigeria’s campaign filled with delegations, receptions, and high-budget foreign missions, may again be stronger on optics than substance.
Kelvin Biachi, a writer/researcher said, “Our delegation is always one of the largest, but elections are not won by sheer presence; they are won by influence backed by real performance at home.”
Some fear Nigeria is repeating patterns: Last-minute shuttle diplomacy, expansive delegations, glossy campaign brochures, limited technical pitches, and minimal reference to measurable reforms.
The Real Question Before December
Nigeria’s fate will be decided not by speeches or the size of its team but by what other maritime nations believe Nigeria has actually achieved in the last two years.
If the Ministry can effectively package: Oyetola’s port rehabilitation efforts, the revival of IMO committee participation, blue economy structuring, PCS transition progress, and the new inter-agency alignment, then the campaign may avoid becoming another ceremonial outing.
But without a clearer demonstration of measurable outcomes, Nigeria may again walk away with applause, not votes.
Picture: Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu
