By Foster Obi
Nigeria has finally clinched a seat in Category C of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council for the 2026–2027 biennium, a breakthrough that ends years of failed attempts and marks the country’s most significant diplomatic comeback in the maritime sector in over a decade.
The victory, announced during the Assembly’s Council elections, elevates Nigeria back into the powerful policymaking circle that shapes global maritime regulations, safety standards, and the future of international shipping.
While headlines will simply celebrate the win, the deeper story is Nigeria’s long and frustrating history of unsuccessful bids. For several cycles, Nigeria campaigned vigorously but consistently fell short, losing its place as other African and Middle Eastern countries consolidated their alliances and sharpened their diplomacy.
Maritime analysts recall that Nigeria’s last successful election was in 2009; subsequent attempts, including those in 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023, ended in disappointment, often by narrow margins. Over time, the country’s credibility in the IMO system began to erode, with delegates quietly questioning whether Nigeria still had the strategic coordination to win multilateral contests.
But 2025 changed the narrative. The turning point came under the leadership of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, who launched the most structured, targeted, and professional IMO campaign Nigeria has run in years.
Instead of the old practice of last-minute lobbying and bloated delegations, the 2025 campaign adopted:
Bilateral shuttle diplomacy to key IMO member states
Technical positioning, highlighting Nigeria’s leadership on Gulf of Guinea maritime security
A unified national delegation, ending the previous era of inter-agency fragmentation
Evidence-based engagement, showcasing port reforms, deep blue security architecture, and inland waterways development
A quiet African bloc consolidation, which analysts say was decisive
Inside the IMO corridors in London, Nigeria was no longer seen as campaigning for prestige but for a country returning to play a serious role in global maritime governance.
The IMO Assembly elected 20 countries into Category C, reserved for states with significant maritime interests not captured under categories A or B.
Category C includes:
Bahamas, Belgium, Chile, Cyprus, Egypt, Finland, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Türkiye.
This group reflects a balance of regional representation and strategic maritime influence. Nigeria’s inclusion restores West Africa’s weight in IMO decision-making and reaffirms the country’s relevance in global shipping governance.
Securing a Category C seat gives Nigeria the following opportunities: A direct vote on key IMO policies
A platform to influence safety, pollution, and trade rules affecting Nigerian ports and shipping
Leverage to negotiate technical assistance and capacity-building programs
Opportunity to champion African maritime security and trade corridors
It also strengthens the Marine and Blue Economy Ministry’s strategic agenda to grow Nigeria’s shipping participation, expand cabotage implementation, modernize ports, and deepen the blue economy.
What stands out in this election is not just the win, but the resilience behind it. Nigeria entered this race carrying the baggage of numerous defeats. Yet the 2025 campaign proved that global maritime diplomacy rewards coherence, preparation, and seriousness, qualities that were missing for many years.
By winning, Nigeria has not only re-entered the room but has reopened a door that had seemed permanently shut.
The newly elected Council will meet for its 136th session on 4 December to elect its Chair and Vice Chair for the new biennium — and for the first time in years, Nigeria will be there as a voting member, not an observer. This is not just a victory. It is a reset.
Picture: Marine and Blue Economy Minister Adegboyega Oyetola
