Nigeria’s campaign for a seat on the International Maritime Organisation Council received a significant boost as Switzerland officially declared its support for the country’s candidacy for the Category ‘C’ seat for the 2026/2027 biennium.
The endorsement was conveyed during a courtesy visit by Switzerland’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Patrick Felix Egloff, to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, in Abuja.
The IMO elections are slated for October/November 2025.
Describing the endorsement as a major milestone, Oyetola noted that the gesture reflects Nigeria’s increasing credibility in the global maritime sector.
He stated, “I am happy for this show of support from the Swiss government. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the Federal Government to upholding international standards.”
He further added that Nigeria’s election into the council would contribute to strengthening the global maritime industry.
Highlighting the country’s maritime assets, Oyetola pointed out that Nigeria possesses 200 nautical miles of Exclusive Economic Zone, extended by an additional 16,300 kilometres on the continental shelf. “With such endowment, Nigeria, by any standard, is supposed to be a maritime nation,” he said.
The Minister also spoke on the strategic National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy, developed in collaboration with international stakeholders including the World Bank, African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), and the Kingdom of Norway. He said the policy is designed to be long-lasting and impactful.
To accelerate development in the maritime sector, Oyetola revealed that the government is leveraging a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) approach, with minimal government equity involvement. He cited priority areas such as inland waterway investment, provision of boats, dredging operations, and navigation infrastructure.
On security, the Minister highlighted the achievements of the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, widely known as the Deep Blue Project. “The Deep Blue project, which is a surveillance structure, has assisted us in keeping our waters very safe. There’s been no piracy for the past three years, and we’re trying to sustain that. We try again to ensure that we extend the safety to even the Gulf of Guinea as part of our collaboration with other countries,” he said.
Ambassador Egloff confirmed that Switzerland’s support followed a formal request from Nigeria’s Ministry in April 2025. “I’m very glad to convey this letter of support; Switzerland is very happy to support you; you’re a very strong candidate. We support your candidacy, your commitment to multilateralism overall, and in particular in this field you bring. You’re a very important country,” Egloff said.
The endorsement marks a key moment in Nigeria’s campaign, adding international weight to its bid as the IMO Council elections approach.
