NIMASA DG Welcomes Arsenio Domínguez to Nigeria

ZAINAB JUNAID

Maritime Cooperation on the rise as the Director General of Nigeria Maritime Administration Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola Welcomed the Secretary-General of International Maritime Organisation, Mr. Arsenio Domínguez to Nigeria.

At the high level meeting held in Lagos on Thursday, 2 October 2025, discussions centered on enhancing safety in Gulf of Guinea and ways to improving maritime cooperation and development.

The Secretary General, who was on a three-day working visit to Nigeria, lauded Nigeria’s remarkable achievements in maritime security, particularly its success in recording zero piracy incidents for over three years and the groundbreaking Deep Blue Project, which he described as a model for regional cooperation in the Gulf of Guinea.

During his visit to the two critical facilities of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in Kirikiri, Apapa—the C4i Centre and the Regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (RMRCC), he lauded Nigeria’s commitment to maritime security and rescue operations.

Domínguez described the development as exemplary, as the facilities reflected a level of preparedness and innovation that aligns with IMO’s global mission of safe, secure, and sustainable shipping.

To him, Nigeria’s commitment to maritime security and rescue operations is exemplary.

The C4i Centre, a cornerstone of Nigeria’s Deep Blue Project, integrates advanced technologies in command, control, communication, computer, and intelligence operations.

It serves as a hub for maritime surveillance, intelligence gathering, and rapid response coordination. Since its establishment, the centre has significantly contributed to reducing piracy incidents in the Gulf of Guinea, fostering greater safety for international shipping.

The RMRCC coordinates Nigeria’s search and rescue operations across its maritime domain and collaborates with regional and international bodies to enhance safety at sea.

Over the years, it has successfully managed rescue operations for distressed vessels and provided timely interventions that have saved countless lives and assets in Nigerian waters and beyond.

Visibly impressed by the facilities, Domínguez praised Nigeria’s leadership in securing the Gulf of Guinea and in developing robust maritime safety frameworks.

L-R: Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Domínguez; Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics and Research), University of Lagos, when the IMO Secretary-General visited the Institute of Maritime Studies at the university as part of his visit to Nigeria, on Friday.

The IMO Chief further visited the Institute of Maritime Studies (IMS) at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), where he toured facilities and interacted with students.

He expressed admiration for Nigeria’s investments in maritime manpower development, particularly commending NIMASA for donating a new building to the institute and for its continued support of capacity-building initiatives in the sector.

L-R: Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Domínguez; Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola; Director-General, International Maritime Institute of Nigeria, Rear Admiral Thaddeus Udofia (rtd) and Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dayo Mobereola, when the IMO Secretary-General visited the institute as part of his visit to Nigeria, on Friday.