By ZAKAA LAZARUS
The Nigerian Navy, NN, and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, have renewed their strategic partnership with the signing of a five-year Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, to strengthen maritime safety and security across Nigeria’s maritime domain.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, on behalf of the Chief of the Naval Staff.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by the Chief of the Naval Staff, CNS, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, and the Director General/Chief Executive Officer of NIMASA, Dr Dayo Mobereola, along with Principal Staff Officers and senior officials of both organisations at Naval Headquarters in Abuja.
The renewed MoU consolidates a relationship that began in 2007 and has been sustained through successive renewals. It aligns the complementary mandates, capabilities and expertise of both institutions to improve coordination and deliver measurable maritime safety and security outcomes.
Speaking at the event, Dr Mobereola described the renewal as a reaffirmation of the shared commitment of both organisations to the security, safety, sustainability and prosperity of Nigeria’s maritime domain and Blue Economy. He noted that Nigeria’s economic wellbeing is closely tied to the sea and stressed that securing the maritime space is a national imperative.
He acknowledged the Nigerian Navy as a critical pillar of Nigeria’s maritime security architecture and recognised its operational support to NIMASA in discharging the Agency’s statutory responsibilities.
On his part, Vice Admiral Abbas described the renewed MoU as an important milestone in an enduring relationship founded on decades of cooperation and shared national interests. He expressed confidence in NIMASA’s leadership and reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to sustained collaboration.
The CNS pledged the Navy’s operational support towards the effective discharge of NIMASA’s mandate over the next five years, stressing that sustained inter-agency cooperation remains indispensable to securing Nigeria’s maritime space.
Under the renewed framework, the Navy and NIMASA will deepen cooperation in:
– Maritime safety and security
– Marine pollution control
– Search and rescue
– Maritime law enforcement*
– Intelligence and information sharing Hydrography, training and capacity development
The MoU also establishes mechanisms for accountability, including regular institutional review and an annual Maritime Safety and Security Conference to assess progress and refine joint priorities.
The Navy said securing Nigeria’s territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone remains fundamental to protecting lives and property, safeguarding legitimate maritime activities, and creating an enabling environment for the Blue Economy.
It added that it will continue to work with NIMASA, sister services, and other security agencies to protect Nigeria’s maritime interests and defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the nation.
