Nigeria Elected Vice-President of International Seabed Authority

Nigeria has been elected as one of the Vice-Presidents of the 2026 Assembly of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) during the 31st Session (Part II) held in Kingston, Jamaica, from July 13–24 and July 27–31, 2026. The African Group unanimously endorsed Nigeria for this position, which is currently held by Mrs. Fatimah Sugra Tabi’a Mahmood, the Head of Nigeria’s delegation and Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

In her address to the Assembly, Mrs. Mahmood reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to collaborating with the ISA and other Member States to further the Authority's objectives. She emphasized the need for science, equity, and precaution in managing the international seabed area, which is recognized as the common heritage of humankind.

The Nigerian delegation included officials from various ministries and agencies, reflecting the country's active participation in international maritime governance and its commitment to sustainable management of deep seabed resources.