In Lagos this week, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dayo Mobereola, delivered a message that cut straight to the bone: if Africa is serious about safer seas, cleaner waters, and credible maritime operations, then Port State Control (PSC) must be strengthened without excuses.
The occasion was a five-day “Train-the-Trainer” workshop for member states of the Abuja Memorandum of Understanding (Abuja MoU) on PSC, supported by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Delegates across West and Central Africa gathered to confront a hard truth — weak inspections and poor enforcement open the doors for sub-standard vessels and environmental disasters.
Mobereola, represented by NIMASA’s Executive Director of Operations, Engr. Fatai Taiye Adeyemi, did not sugarcoat it. He stressed that PSC is only as strong as the people implementing it. Training, competence, and consistency are the backbone. Without them, PSC collapses into paperwork and wishful thinking.
According to him, the workshop represents “a clear signal of Africa’s collective determination to elevate maritime governance, strengthen safety standards, and protect the marine environment across West and Central Africa.” With shipping activity increasing across the region, failure to reinforce PSC would be costly — from economic losses to environmental fallout.
The IMO’s representative, Captain Ahmed Sewelam, echoed this urgency. He reaffirmed IMO’s continuous support for regions building harmonised and effective PSC regimes. His stance was firm: regional cooperation is non-negotiable if Africa wants to crush sub-standard shipping and maintain consistency across ports.
Sewelam explained that the workshop gives member states the chance to sharpen their inspection procedures, reporting systems, and performance strategies. In simple terms: if Africa improves how it checks vessels, the region will improve safety, sustainability, and maritime credibility.
Captain Sunday Umoren, Secretary-General of the Abuja MoU, was equally emphatic. Capacity building, he noted, is not an optional project — it is the engine behind every strong maritime system. Weak Flag State controls produce weak PSC outcomes, and weak PSC creates loopholes for dangerous ships to roam freely.
“We must continue to build capacity, strengthen cooperation, and share experiences to ensure that our region maintains high standards of maritime safety and compliance,” Umoren stressed.
Hard numbers underline the importance. The workshop drew participation from 22 West and Central African countries — a testament to how critical the moment is. As shipping traffic grows in complexity and volume, the risks grow with it. Without solid PSC systems, sub-standard vessels can slip through easily, leading to accidents, oil spills, and reputational damage for African ports.
Why Port State Control Matters
PSC is one of the world’s most effective tools against unsafe and poorly maintained ships. When a vessel sails into a port, inspectors check whether the ship, its crew, and its equipment comply with international maritime conventions.
- If a ship fails, it can be detained or barred from further operations.
- If a country’s PSC is weak, sub-standard ships will treat its ports like free playgrounds.
- If PSC is strong, unsafe vessels avoid the region altogether.
In West and Central Africa — where many shipping routes are becoming critical to global trade — raising the bar isn’t just important. It’s survival.
The Road Ahead
Mobereola made it clear: all the speeches and workshops in the world mean nothing without implementation. Inspectors must be equipped. Data systems must improve. Flag States must do their jobs. Regional cooperation must be more than a slogan.
Stronger PSC requires:
- Unified inspection procedures across Abuja MoU countries
- Efficient real-time data sharing
- Well-trained, technically competent PSC officers
- Stronger national maritime governance structures
NIMASA, backed by the IMO and the Abuja MoU, is positioning Nigeria as a driver of this regional reform. Strengthened PSC boosts investor confidence, increases shipping traffic, and enhances environmental protection — all crucial for the country’s maritime economy.
The message coming out of Lagos is unmistakable: Africa is done tolerating sub-standard shipping. The region is ready to enforce standards that protect lives, economies, and the environment.
Port State Control is not just a maritime policy. It is Africa’s frontline defence — and NIMASA wants that frontline fortified.