The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has intensified efforts to digitise its operations as part of wider reforms aimed at eliminating unnecessary human contact, blocking revenue leakages and reducing bureaucratic delays in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
Director-General of NIMASA, Dr Dayo Mobereola, disclosed this at the 2026 Maritime Training Summit and Awards organised by the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) in Lagos, themed, “The Power of Innovation in a Future-Ready Maritime Training Agenda.”
Mobereola, who was represented by the Assistant Director, Public Relations, Daniel Kajo, said innovation had become critical to the future of the maritime industry, stressing that the sector could not continue relying on outdated methods while expecting improved outcomes.
He identified digitalisation, collaboration and strategic synergy as major pillars of NIMASA’s ongoing efforts to transform Nigeria’s maritime industry.
According to him, excessive human interaction in maritime processes has contributed significantly to corruption, delays and inefficiency, making automation necessary for improved service delivery and transparency.
As part of the digitalisation agenda, Mobereola disclosed that NIMASA was moving towards the full automation of the Nigerian ship registry, which would enable ship owners and operators to carry out registration and other transactions remotely without physically visiting the agency’s offices.
The proposed system will also allow users to make payments electronically, a move expected to improve efficiency and strengthen revenue administration by closing loopholes associated with manual processes.
Beyond digitalisation, the NIMASA boss highlighted the importance of collaboration among government agencies and international partners in advancing Nigeria’s maritime interests.
He pointed to Nigeria’s four-year period without a reported pirate attack, the country’s successful election into the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and the recent lifting of a 12-year condition of entry imposed by the United States Coast Guard on vessels that had previously called at Nigerian ports.
Mobereola said the achievements underscored the importance of inter-agency cooperation and international collaboration in strengthening Nigeria’s position in the global maritime community.
On maritime manpower development, he said NIMASA was taking steps to address the industry’s persistent seafarer training gap, disclosing that 134 cadets under the National Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) were being deployed for sea-time training in the United Kingdom, India and Romania.
He added that the agency was also reviewing its regulatory framework to keep pace with emerging developments in global shipping, including autonomous vessels, alternative-fuel ships and greenhouse-gas emission regulations.
Mobereola further disclosed that three major maritime legislations the NIMASA Act 2007, Merchant Shipping Act 2007 and Cabotage Act 2003 are currently undergoing review by the National Assembly.
He said the reforms were necessary to position Nigeria’s maritime sector for emerging global realities and ensure that the country remained competitive in an increasingly technology driven maritime environment.
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