Lagos, Nigeria | September 17, 2025
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has pledged to intensify its crackdown on offshore waste pollution, warning operators and stakeholders in the maritime sector against practices that endanger marine life and threaten Nigeria’s compliance with international environmental standards.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ engagement in Lagos on Tuesday, NIMASA Director-General, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, emphasized that the agency would enforce stricter monitoring and penalties to curb the indiscriminate disposal of waste in Nigeria’s territorial waters. He noted that such activities not only violate the country’s maritime regulations but also undermine its obligations under the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL).
“Nigeria cannot afford to treat offshore waste management with levity. The sustainability of our marine ecosystem and the safety of communities who depend on the ocean for their livelihoods are at stake. NIMASA will strengthen enforcement mechanisms, including inspections, sanctions, and collaboration with international partners, to ensure total compliance,” Mobereola stated.
The agency further disclosed that it is working with the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Nigerian Navy to step up surveillance and ensure violators are held accountable. Plans are also underway to introduce new waste reception facilities at designated ports to encourage safer and more environmentally friendly disposal methods.
Maritime industry experts have welcomed the agency’s renewed commitment, noting that poor waste management has long posed a challenge to offshore operations, threatening fisheries, coastal tourism, and regional trade. However, they called for consistent enforcement and adequate investment in technology to make the initiative sustainable.
NIMASA assured stakeholders that its actions would balance environmental protection with economic growth, stressing that a clean and safe maritime domain remains essential for Nigeria’s blue economy aspirations.
