Nigeria's Minister Calls for Stronger Maritime Control

Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, Nigeria's Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, called for strengthened port state control (PSC) systems among West and Central African maritime leaders during a workshop in Abuja. The event marked the official launch of the Abuja Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on port state control capacity-building programs, supported by Lloyd's Register.

Oyetola emphasized that effective maritime governance is essential for transforming Africa's economy, particularly in light of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). He noted that improved PSC would enhance maritime safety and facilitate intra-African trade.

The workshop, which lasted three days, aimed to align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda and produced practical recommendations for strengthening PSC across the Abuja MOU region. Dr. Dayo Mobereola from NIMASA highlighted Nigeria's commitment to enforcing international maritime conventions, revealing that Nigeria conducted 917 port state control inspections in 2025, exceeding the Abuja MOU benchmark of 15 percent.