The Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) have renewed their strategic partnership with a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening maritime safety and security across Nigeria’s territorial waters and wider maritime domain.
The agreement, signed at the Naval Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, is expected to deepen inter-agency cooperation, protect lives and property, and support legitimate maritime activities as Nigeria advances its Blue Economy agenda.
The signing was witnessed by the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas; NIMASA Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, Dr Dayo Mobereola; and senior officials from both organisations.
The renewed pact builds on a partnership dating back to 2007, underscoring the longstanding collaboration between the two institutions in protecting Nigeria’s maritime interests.
Mobereola described the agreement as a reaffirmation of the Navy and NIMASA’s shared commitment to the safety, security, sustainability and prosperity of Nigeria’s maritime domain.
He said Nigeria’s economic wellbeing was closely tied to the sea, stressing that securing the country’s maritime space was not merely an operational duty but a national imperative.
According to him, the Navy remains a critical pillar of Nigeria’s maritime security architecture, particularly through its operational support for NIMASA’s statutory responsibilities.
Mobereola said the renewed partnership would enable both institutions to better align their mandates, capabilities and expertise to deliver improved maritime safety and security.
Abbas, in his remarks, described the renewed MoU as a significant milestone in a relationship built on decades of cooperation and shared national interests.
The Chief of the Naval Staff expressed confidence in NIMASA’s leadership and progress, assuring the agency of continued operational support throughout the five-year agreement.
He stressed that sustained cooperation among government agencies was vital to securing Nigeria’s maritime space, protecting national interests and creating a safer environment for legitimate economic activity.
Under the new framework, the Navy and NIMASA will strengthen cooperation in maritime safety and security, marine pollution control, search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, intelligence and information sharing, hydrography, training and professional development.
The agreement is also expected to enhance maritime domain awareness and improve the agencies’ ability to respond swiftly to incidents at sea, while strengthening the protection of ships, crew, cargo, passengers and navigation within Nigeria’s maritime domain.
Beyond joint operations, the MoU provides for faster intelligence and information exchange, better use of relevant facilities and capabilities, and wider cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
It also introduces mechanisms to strengthen accountability and ensure sustained results. Implementation will undergo regular institutional reviews, while the two organisations will jointly host an annual Maritime Safety and Security Conference to assess progress, identify emerging threats and set priorities.
The renewed partnership comes as effective management and security of Nigeria’s maritime space remain crucial to economic growth and the development of the Blue Economy.
The Navy reaffirmed its commitment to working with NIMASA, sister Services and other security agencies to safeguard Nigeria’s maritime interests, protect lives and property, and defend the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.