Nigeria elected into IMO world council

26.11.2007

History was made by Nigeria in London at the weekend when the country was elected into the council of the world maritime regulatory body, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

In the keenly contested election for the Category C of the organisation’s council membership, the country emerged victorious as one of the 40 out of the 167 member nations that would decide the direction of the world maritime policies in the next two years.

With election victory at the 25th General Assembly of International Maritime Organisation in London at the weekend, Nigeria would henceforth be sitting with countries like United States of America and United Kingdom, elected in Category A and B, to formulate maritime policies for the whole world at least until 2009 when another election would be held.

The country had a total of 87 votes to emerge winner among the countries that contested the position in the West and Central Africa sub-region. Two other countries from the sub-region— Angola and Liberia — were defeated having scored 42 and 74 votes respectively.

The three countries from the Africa sub-region contested for category C membership of the IMO council seat. Countries that competed for the seat under category C are those that have special interest in maritime transport and navigation and whose election to the council would ensure representation of all major geographic areas of the world.