After 19 years, NIMASA and Navy renew maritime security pact

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency and the Nigerian Navy have renewed their strategic partnership, signing a fresh Memorandum of Understanding that strengthens maritime security, enforcement coordination, and information sharing across the country’s waterways.

The agreement, signed at the Navy Headquarters in Abuja, marks the first formal renewal of the partnership since the original MoU was inked in 2007. NIMASA Director‑General Dr. Dayo Mobereola and Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Idi Abbas put their signatures to the document, which updates the collaborative framework to reflect current threats and operational realities.

Under the renewed terms, both institutions will deepen cooperation on the implementation of the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences (SPOMO) Act, the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, and other relevant maritime laws within NIMASA’s regulatory remit.

Speaking at the signing, Dr. Mobereola credited Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola’s commitment to inter‑agency collaboration as a key driver of the renewed partnership. He said the new MoU provides a stronger institutional foundation for both agencies to execute their statutory mandates and consolidate security gains already recorded in Nigerian waters.

“As we renew this partnership today, I urge our respective teams to ensure that the spirit of this agreement translates into practical and measurable outcomes,” Mobereola said.

Vice Admiral Abbas, for his part, described the signing as a milestone in the long‑standing relationship between the two institutions. He noted that the renewed MoU includes important additions tailored to the evolving nature of maritime threats, most notably the integration of the Deep Blue Project into the collaborative framework. That move, he said, would create a stronger basis for cooperation between the Navy’s Maritime Guard Command and the Deep Blue assets.

The new agreement also introduces a joint reporting protocol for operational communication and information sharing, designed to enable faster decision‑making and more coordinated responses to incidents at sea.

Abbas further welcomed provisions for greater institutional engagement, including an annual conference to review progress, assess challenges, and adjust strategies.

“Whether we like it or not, the water is where we get whatever we are getting, our revenue, everything, and even the trade we engage in, in large percentages, is done through the water. So this institution has to be very strong,” he said.

The renewed MoU is expected to deepen operational cooperation in maritime security, information exchange, incident response, and enforcement of applicable maritime laws.