IMO Council Seat Election: Counting on Oyetola’s Final Diplomatic Push

BY GBOGBOWA GBOWA

London roared with Nigeria’s last diplomatic appeal yesterday, as the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola stormed the IMO headquarters with a message too loud to ignore.

Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, addressing delegates at a lunch reception organised by Nigeria at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) headquarters in London on Thursday.

With the Council election just days away, Nigeria’s campaign has shifted into overdrive. At a packed lunch reception attended by delegates from more than 150 countries, Oyetola delivered what can only be described as a thunderous plea: Nigeria is not begging for votes—it is demanding recognition for its record.

The Gulf of Guinea, once a global nightmare, has been transformed into a corridor of calm. Oyetola reminded the world that Nigeria has recorded zero piracy incidents in four years, thanks to the Deep Blue Project and regional cooperation. That achievement alone, he argued, proves Nigeria’s leadership in maritime security is not rhetoric but reality.

His expressions told the story as much as his words. Nigeria’s pitch was more than security—it was solidarity. Oyetola spoke of port reforms, environmental stewardship, and a blue economy agenda designed to align with IMO’s long-term priorities. He stressed that Nigeria’s bid is about partnership, not prestige, and about ensuring that every coastal nation, big or small, benefits from secure oceans and open trade routes.

L-R: Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dayo Mobereola; Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Mr Arsenio Dominguez; Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola and Charge d’Affairs, High Commission of Nigeria, London, Ambassador Mohammed Maidugu, at a lunch reception organised by Nigeria at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) headquarters in London on Thursday.

In a heartfelt moment, the minister extended Nigeria’s sympathy to countries battered by hurricanes and disasters in the Caribbean and the Philippines. “The seas unite us far more than they divide us,” he declared, striking a chord that resonated across the hall.

The atmosphere was electric. Delegates, ambassadors, and maritime policymakers leaned in as Oyetola invited them to lend Nigeria their “trust, friendship, and votes.” His words carried the weight of a nation passionate about clinching its rightful seat at the IMO Council.

As the countdown to November 28 ticks away, Nigeria’s campaign is riding on goodwill and momentum. The question now is whether Oyetola’s final push will tip the scales. One thing is certain: Nigeria has shouted its case to the world, and the echoes will be hard to ignore.

A statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Bolaji Akinola,  notes that as Nigeria enters the decisive final phase of its campaign, the country is enjoying broad goodwill among the international maritime community, raising expectations ahead of next Friday’s vote.