By By: Alphanso G. Kalama
Liberia and Nigeria have renewed their commitment to strengthening maritime collaboration and security coordination during a high-level bilateral engagement on the sidelines of the 134th session of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council in London.
The meeting, convened by Liberia’s Permanent Representative to the IMO, Hon. Robert Wilmont Kpadeh, brought together a prominent Nigerian delegation led by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Hon. Adegboyega Oyetola. The delegation included senior maritime officials from Lagos and Abuja, along with Nigeria’s Acting Permanent Representative to the IMO, Hon. William Bwala.
Central to the discussions were the two nations’ campaigns for representation on the IMO Council. Liberia is working to maintain its Category A seat, while Nigeria is seeking re-election to the Category C Council position after a period of absence.
Minister Oyetola conveyed warm greetings from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and commended Liberia for its strong advocacy at the IMO, particularly in promoting the interests of developing countries and enhancing global maritime capacity. He also briefed the Liberian side on Nigeria’s Deep Blue Project, a national initiative aimed at combating piracy and maritime crimes in the Gulf of Guinea, while expressing readiness for enhanced intelligence-sharing and cooperation with Liberia’s maritime forces.
Liberia Maritime Authority Commissioner and CEO, Cllr. Neto Zarzar Lighe Sr., thanked the Nigerian delegation for its ongoing partnership and extended an invitation to attend the upcoming 8th Session of the Association of African Maritime Administrations (AAMA), scheduled to take place in Monrovia in September.
The 134th IMO Council session forms part of a series of significant global maritime meetings this year and precedes the 11th session of the Sub-Committee on Implementation of IMO Instruments (III), slated for July 21–25.
