The Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), and the Abuja Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control for West and Central Africa (Abuja MoU) will host Directors General, Chief Executive Officers of Maritime Administrations, and Heads of Port State Control from 22 countries in Lagos from June 29 to July 1, 2026.
The high-level regional workshop, themed “A Future-Ready Port State Control Regime: Leadership, People, Governance, and Performance for Safer Maritime Systems,” will bring together maritime leaders and regulators from across West and Central Africa to discuss measures aimed at strengthening Port State Control (PSC) implementation and enhancing maritime safety, security, environmental protection, and regulatory compliance in the region.
The workshop is designed to raise leadership awareness on Port State Control responsibilities, induct newly appointed Directors-General and Heads of Port State Control, build consensus on the ratification and domestication of international maritime conventions, strengthen regional cooperation and political commitment, and promote institutional ownership and sustainability of Port State Control programmes within member states.
Participants will also explore strategies for enhancing regional information-sharing, improving inspection quality assurance systems, advancing gender inclusion within Port State Control functions, promoting ethical inspection practices, and leveraging digital technologies to improve performance and regulatory oversight.
A major objective of the programme is to support member states in achieving a shared regional vision by 2030 under which all 22 Abuja MoU member countries actively conduct Port State Control inspections, at least 16 states attain the 15 per cent inspection benchmark, inspector competency is strengthened across the region, governance and integrity systems are enhanced, and maritime administrations are better prepared for the IMO Member State Audit Scheme.
At the end of the workshop, participants are expected to endorse a Regional Port State Control Leadership Commitment aimed at supporting convention ratification and domestication, investing in inspector development, strengthening governance and integrity systems, advancing gender inclusion, improving regional cooperation and data sharing, and accelerating progress towards the Abuja MoU’s inspection targets.
The expected outcome of the workshop includes stronger political commitment to Port State Control, improved regional harmonisation, enhanced institutional ownership of PSC programmes, and greater compliance with international maritime obligations. Stakeholders believe these efforts will contribute to safer ships, cleaner seas, stronger coastal communities, and a more resilient maritime sector across West and Central Africa.
Under its leadership and regulatory harmonisation objectives, participants will seek to strengthen understanding of Port State Control as a strategic national responsibility, promote the ratification and domestication of relevant conventions of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), and improve member states’ readiness for the IMO Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS).
The programme forms part of a five-year capacity building initiative secured by the Secretary General of the Abuja MoU, Capt. Sunday Umoren, for the training of policymakers and Port State Control Officers across the organisation’s 22 member countries.
All delegates participating in the workshop will be fully sponsored by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation (LRF), whose support is helping to advance capacity development, regulatory effectiveness, and maritime governance across the West and Central African region.
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