Nigeria and Ghana have entered a significant maritime cooperation agreement aimed at enhancing regional integration and leveraging the Blue Economy. This landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed in Lagos by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), focuses on improving maritime security, combating piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, and establishing mutual recognition of seafarers’ Certificates of Competency (CoC).
During the signing ceremony, NIMASA’s Director-General, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, emphasized that the agreement serves as a roadmap for enhancing the maritime sector. It encompasses vital areas such as maritime safety, institutional capacity building, knowledge sharing, and coordinated engagement at international forums. Mobereola expressed commitment to implementing the MoU, highlighting the necessity for both agencies to create annual agendas to track progress and achieve tangible outcomes.
The collaboration aims to bolster maritime governance and regulatory effectiveness while addressing piracy and maritime terrorism in the Gulf of Guinea. Dr. Kamal-Deen Ali, Director-General of the GMA, hailed the MoU as a significant milestone in their longstanding partnership, noting Ghana’s appreciation for Nigeria’s leadership in maritime initiatives. Both nations are committed to learning from one another to strengthen regional maritime administration.
