Nigeria has secured a historic victory, earning a seat in Category C of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council for the 2026–2027 biennium. The decision was announced during the IMO General Assembly in London on Friday, November 28, 2025, marking Nigeria’s return to the Council after a 14-year absence.

The campaign was led by the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola. He described the win as a landmark endorsement of Nigeria’s renewed leadership and maritime reforms.

Dr Oyetola credited the victory to a year of extensive diplomacy, cross-continental engagements, and robust advocacy, noting that the win reflects world confidence in Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He highlighted Nigeria’s focus on maritime reforms, Gulf of Guinea security, and the broader blue economy as central to the country’s outreach and readiness to contribute to global maritime governance.

What the victory means:

Nigeria joins 19 other nations in Category C, which includes countries with special interests in maritime transport and navigation and helps ensure balanced geographical representation on the Council.

The list of Category C members alongside Nigeria includes Bahamas, Belgium, Cyprus, Chile, Egypt, Finland, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and South Africa.

Category B (major players in international seaborne trade) and Category A (leading global shipping services) members were also announced, with several prominent nations in each category.

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The Minister praised the international maritime community for their trust and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to governance reforms, integrity, and responsible leadership in the Gulf of Guinea.

He also thanked the Technical Committee of Experts, chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, for strategic planning and coordination.

The return to the IMO Council is expected to strengthen international partnerships, improve access to technical support, boost investor confidence, and reinforce Nigeria’s leadership role in the Gulf of Guinea.

The government emphasises that Nigeria must continue deepening reforms and uphold its responsibilities as a leading maritime nation.