The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) said it has granted accreditation to 27 registered shipyards across the country in a move to strengthen safety and operational standards within Nigeria’s maritime industry.
Acting under the provisions of Section 22 of the NIMASA Act, 2007, and Sections 335–339 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 2007, the agency reaffirmed its statutory authority to regulate, license, inspect, and enforce compliance among shipyard operators.
Among the accredited facilities, ten are located in Lagos State, eight in Rivers State, and nine in Delta State — each having successfully met NIMASA’s stringent safety, technical, and operational requirements.
The Director General of NIMASA, Dr Dayo Mobereola, described the exercise as a crucial step in enhancing safety, transparency, and efficiency across Nigeria’s maritime landscape.
“Our goal is to ensure that every shipyard operating in Nigeria adheres to international standards of safety, environmental protection, and operational efficiency. By maintaining a transparent and credible register of accredited facilities, we are boosting investor confidence, protecting maritime assets, and promoting sustainable industry growth. This underscores the Agency’s sustained commitment to promoting transparency, safety, and quality service delivery in ship repair, dry-docking, and vessel construction within Nigeria,” he said.
He said as part of the new framework, vessels built at accredited shipyards will be assigned a Keel Identification Number (KIN) by NIMASA’s Maritime Safety and Seafarers Standards Department at the point of construction, in line with the Certificate of Plan and Specification Approval.
This identifier, according to the agency, will qualify such vessels to obtain an International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Number, further integrating Nigerian shipbuilding into the global maritime system.
NIMASA noted that the accreditation and verification process will remain ongoing to ensure continued compliance and operational excellence throughout the maritime value chain.
However, the agency did not release the list of the 27 accredited shipyards, and as at the time of this report, the link provided on its official website was not functional.
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