NSIB, NIMASA Partner On Data Sharing To Boost Maritime Safety
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) have agreed to establish a joint framework for data sharing, safety investigations and technical cooperation to strengthen maritime safety across Nigeria’s waterways.
The agreement was reached during a courtesy visit by the Director General of the NSIB, Captain Alex Badeh Jr., to the Director General of NIMASA, Dr Dayo Mobereola, at the agency’s headquarters in Lagos.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the NSIB Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs Funke Adebayo-Arowojobe, the framework will enhance collaboration through structured data sharing, capacity building, coordinated safety investigations and stronger inter-agency cooperation.
The initiative is expected to improve the implementation of safety recommendations arising from maritime accident investigations while promoting safer navigation on Nigeria’s inland waterways and coastal areas.
Speaking during the meeting, Captain Badeh said although both agencies have separate statutory mandates, they share a common goal of improving safety in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
He noted that the partnership would promote data-driven regulation, strengthen collaboration between investigators and regulators, and support Nigeria’s engagement with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) by advancing globally accepted safety standards.
Badeh also congratulated NIMASA on Nigeria’s recent election into Category C of the IMO Council, describing it as a significant milestone for the country’s maritime administration and international standing.
In his remarks, NIMASA Director General, Dr Dayo Mobereola, stressed that collaboration among government agencies is critical to building a safe and sustainable maritime industry.
He said the partnership aligns with the priorities of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to deepen cooperation across the sector, adding that it would help unlock the full potential of Nigeria’s blue economy while enhancing maritime safety and security.
Both agencies agreed to establish a joint operational committee to oversee the implementation of the framework. The committee will coordinate information sharing, strengthen investigative capacity, facilitate technical cooperation and improve responses to future maritime incidents.
The collaboration is expected to reinforce the relationship between independent accident investigation and maritime regulation, with the NSIB continuing to investigate maritime accidents and issue safety recommendations, while NIMASA maintains its regulatory oversight to ensure compliance with national and international maritime safety standards.
