The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has expressed frustration over the continued payment of war risk insurance premiums on cargoes bound for Nigeria, despite significant investments in maritime security and a sharp decline in piracy incidents.
Speaking on Thursday while receiving a delegation from the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NIMASA’s Director General, Dayo Mobereola—represented by the agency’s Executive Director for Finance and Administration, Chudi Offodile—urged the international community to acknowledge Nigeria’s progress in securing its waters.
He emphasized the need for a corresponding reduction in war risk insurance costs.
“The Nigerian government has demonstrated a strong commitment to maritime security, leading to nearly zero incidents of piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea over the past four years,” Offodile stated. “Despite this, vessels coming to Nigeria continue to pay high war risk premiums, which is unjustifiable given the improved security landscape.”
He highlighted Nigeria’s efforts, including collaborations with the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre and the launch of the Deep Blue Project in 2021, which has significantly curtailed piracy and kidnapping in the Gulf of Guinea.
However, he lamented the lack of a corresponding reduction in the cost of freight movement and war risk insurance.
“These are issues we expect the international community to address. With this visit, we hope the Danish government will consider our concerns and push for an appropriate response to reflect the progress we have made,” he added.
In response, Kristin Skov-Spilling, leader of the Danish delegation, acknowledged Nigeria’s key role in maritime security and expressed interest in understanding its collaboration with the Kofi Annan Centre.
She highlighted Denmark’s ongoing military cooperation in the region and its commitment to capacity development.
“We are eager to hear about Nigeria’s experience with the Kofi Annan Centre and any recommendations for future improvements,” Skov-Spilling said.
She also noted the importance of gender inclusion in the maritime sector and praised Nigeria’s leadership in regional maritime security.
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