About NIMASA

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is the apex regulatory and promotional maritime agency. The Agency was created from the merger of National Maritime Authority and Joint Maritime Labour Industrial Council (former parastatals of the Federal Ministry of Transport) on the 1st August 2006.
The Agency was established primarily for the administration of Maritime Safety Seafarers Standards and Security, Maritime Labour, Shipping Regulation, Promotion of Commercial Shipping and Cabotage activities, Pollution Prevention and Control in the marine environment, the Agency also implements domesticated International Maritime Organization (IMO) and International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions.

History of the Commission

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) was established as part of the Nigerian government’s effort to modernize and regulate the country’s maritime sector, which is vital for trade, security, and economic development. Its creation stems from the historical evolution of maritime governance in Nigeria, beginning with the early development of the country’s maritime laws and institutions.

Initially, maritime activities in Nigeria were managed by the National Maritime Authority (NMA), which was established in 1987 under the Ministry of Transport to regulate the country’s maritime affairs. The NMA was responsible for overseeing shipping practices, enforcing safety regulations, and ensuring that Nigeria complied with international maritime conventions. However, there was a need for more effective integration and regulation in the growing maritime sector, particularly with issues relating to safety, security, and environmental concerns.

In 2007, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) was created by the merger of the National Maritime Authority (NMA) and the Joint Maritime Labour Industrial Council (JOMALIC), with the passage of the NIMASA Act. This merger aimed to consolidate maritime responsibilities under a single institution with a broader mandate that included the promotion of Nigerian participation in the shipping industry, ensuring safety and environmental standards, and implementing international maritime conventions such as those established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Since its establishment, NIMASA has taken on a comprehensive role in regulating maritime safety, enforcing shipping policies, promoting the development of maritime infrastructure, and contributing to the security of Nigeria’s territorial waters. One of its key interventions was the introduction of the Cabotage Act, which was designed to encourage the growth of indigenous shipping businesses by limiting foreign involvement in domestic shipping routes.

NIMASA has also played a leading role in maritime security, particularly in addressing piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, a region that has faced significant challenges related to maritime crime. Over the years, the agency has worked to ensure that Nigeria’s maritime industry meets international standards while fostering economic growth and creating job opportunities in the sector.

Today, NIMASA remains a critical institution in Nigeria, guiding the development of the maritime industry, ensuring safety at sea, and protecting the nation’s maritime resources. Its historical background reflects a continuous drive for modernization and improved governance of Nigeria’s vital maritime sector.

Core Functions

  • Pursue the development of shipping and regulatory matters relating to merchant shipping and seafarers.
  • Administration and regulation of shipping licenses.
  • Administration, Regulation and Certification of Seafarers.
  • Establishment of Maritime Training and Safety Standards
  • Regulation of safety of shipping as regards the construction of ships and navigation.
  • Provision of Maritime Search and Rescue Services
  • Provide direction and ensure compliance with vessels security measures
  • Carry out Air and Coastal Surveillance
  • Control and prevent Maritime Pollution
  • Develop and implement policies and programs, which will facilitate the growth of local capacity in ownership, manning and construction of ships and other maritime infrastructure.
  • Enhance and administer the provision of Cabotage Act. 2003
  • Perform Port and Flag State duties.
  • Provide Maritime Security.
  • Establish the procedure for the implementation of conventions of the International Maritime    Organization (IMO) and the International Labour
  • Organization (ILO), and other international conventions to which the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a party on Maritime Safety and Security,
  • Maritime Labour, Commercial Shipping, and for the implementation of Codes, Resolutions and Circulars arising there from.

Our Vision

To be the Leading Maritime Administration in Africa advancing Nigeria’s Global Maritime goals

Our Mission

To achieve and sustain safe, secure shipping, cleaner oceans and enhanced maritime capacity in line with the best global practices towards Nigeria’s economic development

Organizational Structures

The Triple “S” also known as the NIMASA Performance Tripod is designed as the compass of the NIMASA’s executive management in charting the course of the Agency within the three cardinal concerns that truly reflect NIMASA’s composite of mandates as both the regulator and harnesser of Nigeria’s maritime domain.
It is a three-point strategic agenda of the critical elements of the NIMASA commission drawn from the various legal and statutory instruments governing the agency’s existence and operations.
All of the various policy initiatives, interventions, plans, and partnerships of NIMASA are expected to be pursued on the platform of the tripod of Maritime Security as Existential Priority, Maritime Safety as Operational Necessity, and Shipping Development with Economic Urgency.

Conclusion

the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) plays a critical role in the development and regulation of Nigeria’s maritime sector. With its core functions ranging from the regulation of shipping licenses and seafarers to ensuring maritime safety and security, NIMASA is pivotal in fostering a robust maritime industry that meets both national and international standards. Through its dedication to enhancing Nigeria’s maritime capacity, NIMASA promotes sustainable growth in local shipping ownership, manning, and infrastructure development.

The agency’s mission to ensure safe and secure shipping, reduce maritime pollution, and provide a cleaner ocean environment aligns with global best practices, contributing significantly to Nigeria’s economic growth. The NIMASA Performance Tripod, based on the pillars of Maritime Security, Safety, and Shipping Development, serves as a guiding framework for the agency’s strategic initiatives. By focusing on these three critical areas, NIMASA continues to advance Nigeria’s maritime goals, positioning the country as a leading maritime force in Africa and globally.

With a commitment to implementing international maritime conventions and promoting local maritime development, NIMASA remains central to Nigeria’s efforts to enhance its position in global shipping and maritime safety.