NIMASA, China Sign MoU To Deepen Maritime Cooperation
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the China Maritime Safety Administration (China MSA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen bilateral cooperation and promote the development of the maritime sector in both countries.
The agreement was signed in Shanghai, China, at the Shanghai Seafarers Assessment Model Centre, providing a framework for collaboration in key areas, including maritime safety and navigation, marine environmental protection, seafarer training, certification and rights protection, marine casualty investigation, maritime transportation facilitation and maritime security.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, NIMASA Director-General, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, described the agreement as a historic milestone in Nigeria-China relations, emphasising the need to translate the partnership into practical programmes and measurable benefits for both countries.
Mobereola said the MoU goes beyond a formal diplomatic agreement, noting that it represents a commitment to sharing expertise, strengthening institutional collaboration and delivering tangible improvements to the maritime industries of both nations.
He added that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu values Nigeria’s longstanding relationship with China and remains committed to deepening bilateral cooperation, particularly in the maritime sector, in line with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the objectives of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, under the leadership of Adegboyega Oyetola.
In his remarks, the Director-General of China MSA, Mr. Xu Wei, reaffirmed China’s commitment to strengthening maritime relations with Nigeria.
Xu expressed China’s interest in Nigeria’s maritime development and acknowledged the progress recorded in the country’s maritime sector, pledging continued support for initiatives aimed at advancing cooperation and promoting sustainable growth in both countries.
The agreement is expected to promote technical cooperation, knowledge-sharing, capacity development and the exchange of best practices, while strengthening institutional ties between NIMASA and China MSA.
The signing of the MoU marks another significant step in Nigeria-China relations, with expectations that the partnership will contribute to improved maritime safety, stronger institutional capacity and sustainable growth in Nigeria’s maritime industry.
