The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dayo Mobereola, has underscored the importance of Port State Control as one of the most powerful tools for safeguarding global shipping, protecting the marine environment, and promoting higher operational standards across the industry.
Speaking through the Executive Director of Operations, Engr Fatai Taiye Adeyemi, at a five-day Regional Train-the-Trainer Workshop in Lagos, he stressed that the effectiveness of Port State Control ultimately depends on the skill, integrity and technical depth of the professionals tasked with carrying it out.
The workshop, convened for Member States of the Abuja Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with support from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), drew participants from 22 West and Central African countries.
Mobereola described the gathering as a clear signal of Africa’s shared commitment to safer, cleaner and more efficient maritime operations, noting that the presence of so many regional delegates reflected a collective determination to improve safety governance and environmental compliance across the continent’s busy shipping corridors.
He applauded the IMO, the Abuja MoU Secretariat and other technical partners for their continued investment in maritime capacity-building, particularly in a region where shipping remains central to economic growth yet vulnerable to substandard vessels, pollution risks and inconsistent enforcement practices.
The DG noted that strengthening Port State Control is essential not only for environmental stewardship but also for building confidence among global shipping lines and investors that African ports are operating to international standards.
Delivering a goodwill message, Captain Ahmed Sewelam of the IMO reaffirmed the organisation’s long-standing commitment to helping member states develop robust, harmonised Port State Control frameworks through its technical cooperation programme.
He highlighted the need for regional alignment in inspection procedures and reporting systems, arguing that consistency is crucial if West and Central Africa are to eliminate substandard shipping and ensure that vessels calling at their ports meet global safety benchmarks.
According to him, the workshop offers a vital platform for participants to exchange knowledge, refine inspection strategies and collectively enhance their enforcement capacity.
Secretary General of the Abuja MoU, Captain Sunday Umoren, echoed these sentiments, emphasising that capacity-building remains at the heart of the organisation’s mandate.
He pointed out that the performance of Port State Control officers is directly shaped by the strength of national systems, particularly the ability of Flag States to uphold their responsibilities.
He urged member states to deepen cooperation and continue sharing best practices to ensure the region maintains high levels of compliance and operational integrity.
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