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SWITZERLAND PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR NIGERIA’S BID FOR IMO CATEGORY ‘C’ SEAT, Says Oyetola
The Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, H.E. Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, received the letter of endorsement during a courtesy visit by the Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. Patrick Felix Egloff, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
Expressing his delight, Oyetola described the Swiss government’s backing as “a significant milestone in Nigeria’s campaign and a strong testament to the Federal Government’s commitment to upholding international maritime standards.”
According to the Minister, Nigeria’s election into the IMO Council would further strengthen global efforts towards building “a more robust, safe, and sustainable maritime industry.”
Highlighting Nigeria’s maritime potential, Oyetola disclosed that the country boasts 200 nautical miles of Exclusive Economic Zone and an extended continental shelf of 16,300km, positioning it as a strategic maritime nation.
“With these vast endowments, Nigeria, by any standard, is a maritime nation. That’s why the Ministry, in collaboration with the World Bank, AU-IBAR, the Kingdom of Norway, and other stakeholders, has developed a comprehensive National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy capable of standing the test of time,” he stated.
Oyetola further revealed that the Federal Government is adopting a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to drive rapid investments in the maritime sector. These include inland waterways development, supply of boats, dredging, and navigation infrastructure.
On maritime security, the Minister emphasized the success of the Deep Blue Project, Nigeria’s state-of-the-art surveillance initiative:
“For the past three years, there has been zero piracy in our waters, and we’re committed to sustaining this achievement. We’re also working with other Gulf of Guinea countries to extend safety and security beyond our national waters.”
In his remarks, Ambassador Egloff noted that Switzerland’s decision to endorse Nigeria followed an earlier request from the Ministry in April 2025.
“I’m very glad to convey this letter of support. Switzerland is very happy to stand with Nigeria. You’re a strong candidate, and we appreciate your commitment to multilateralism and the maritime sector. Nigeria plays a very important role globally,” he affirmed.
With Switzerland’s endorsement, Nigeria’s campaign for the IMO Category ‘C’ Council seat gains further international momentum ahead of the elections slated for October/November 2025.
