Nigeria IMO, International Maritime Organization Council Seat, MOWCA, says it will engage with 25 members of countries to give a block vote to Nigeria during the forthcoming election
By Sandra Chukwunyere
The Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA) is rallying support for Nigeria’s bid for the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council seat.
The Secretary-General,MOWCA Dr. Paul Adalikwu, announced the sidelines of the Regional Ferry Safety Conference, on Thursday in Lagos, that the organization is engaging with its 25 member countries to secure a bloc vote for Nigeria in the upcoming election.
The Maritime Organisation for West and Central Africa (MOWCA), says the organisation will engage with 25 member countries to give a block vote to Nigeria during the forthcoming council elections into the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
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The Secretary-General of MOWCA, Dr Paul Adalikwu said this at the sidelines of the Regional Ferry Safety Conference, on Thursday in Lagos.
According to Adalikwu, Nigeria last became the member of IMO category C in 2011 but contested four more times and lost.
“But under the present leadership of president Bola Tinubu who have given the approval for Nigeria to contest again, the minister and his team from the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy were in London last week to launch the campaign.
“ We hope that all critical stakeholders coming together, Nigeria has a big shot of winning the seat.
“Nigeria have contacted MOWCA and I am engaging with the 25 member countries to give a block vote to Nigeria as well and we hope that this will happen,” he said.
On access to ports by member countries, he noted that MOWCA acts as an intermediary to landlinked and coastal countries.
“20 of ourmember countries are coastal, five are landlinked, we encourage them to have better relationship and engagement with ports of neighboring countries like Chad and Cameron, Chad and Nigeria, Niger and Nigeria, Bukina and Ghana.
“This will ensure that transit goods going through their countries pass freely to destinations that the goods are meant for with minimal issues,” he said.
On harassment of female seafarers, Adalikwu said that MOWCA do not work alone to ensure the welfare and overall safety of seafarers.
He pointed out that the international Maritime Organisation, a global sister institution in this regard, was partnering with MOWCA in ensuring that measures are put in place to reduce if not completely eliminate harassment of seafarers in general particularly the female gender.
“We are working with critical stakeholders, most importantly, the IMO to ensure that this menace comes to an end,” he said.
