The Nigerian Minister of Marine and the Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, filed three instruments of accession to the conventions of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) which were signed by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.
The deposit of Nigeria’s instruments of accession took place on Wednesday at the headquarters of the Maritime Organization
International Organization (IMO), which acts as depositary of the relevant conventions.
The move, which comes a few weeks after Nigeria declared his intention to run for a seat in the IMO Council, expected to strengthen Nigeria’s maritime governance and align its practices with international standards, promoting thus safety, security and environmental protection maritime.
Nigerian Administration and Security Agency Maritime Affairs (NIMASA) stated that shortly after the ceremonies of presentation, the Nigerian minister informed the secretary general of IMO, Arsenio Dominguez, of the Nigerian president’s commitment to ensure Nigeria aligns with maritime standards international standards for safety, security and practices sustainable maritime industries.
He also called on the IMO to provide technical support to Nigeria.
These instruments duly signed by His Excellency the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria signify the country’s continued commitment to align with international maritime standards, to ensure the maritime safety and security and to promote practices
sustainable maritime industries.
« We hereby request tailor-made technical cooperation under the Integrated Technical Cooperation Program (ITCP) to strengthen Nigeria’s compliance with IMO conventions and improve our maritime governance and the implementation of instruments we submitted today »he said.
He added that IMO Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez
welcomed the official deposit of the instruments of accession, stating that it underlines Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to aligning itself with the global maritime standards.
« I commend Nigeria for its exceptional efforts in
adherence to these six essential IMO instruments. I encourage the
continued momentum by obtaining presidential approval for
other key conventions. At IMO, we remain fully committed to support Nigeria through cooperation initiatives
technical and capacity building to ensure the implementation
successful work of these instruments “, he said.
According to the statement, the instruments handed over by Oyetola to the Secretary General of the IMO, Arsenio Dominguez, understand the instrument of accession to the 2005 Protocol to the Punishment Convention illegal acts against the security of fixed platforms located on the continental shelf (SUA Protocol 2005), the instrument of accession to the International Convention on Training Standards, for issuing certificates and monitoring the personnel of ships fisheries (STCW-F) and the instrument of accession to the Protocol relating to
intervention on the high seas in the event of pollution by substances
other than hydrocarbons (Intervention Protocol 1973).
« Three other accession instruments recently signed by Mr. President, are the subject of new steps to complete the filing process »specifies the press release.
GIK/fss/Sf/te/APA
