Nigeria and Tanzania have strengthened regional maritime cooperation with the signing of a strategic Memorandum of Understanding between the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency and the Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation, a move expected to enhance maritime safety, workforce development, and regulatory efficiency across both countries.
The agreement was formalised during a bilateral meeting held on the sidelines of the International Maritime Organisation General Assembly, where the Director-General of NIMASA and Tanzania’s Alternate Permanent Representative to the IMO endorsed the partnership. Both parties said the MoU provides a structured framework for closer operational collaboration, improved maritime governance and sustained knowledge exchange between the two administrations.
Under the agreement, Nigeria and Tanzania will collaborate on maritime domain awareness, cabotage administration, seafarer capacity development and the deployment of digital information systems to improve regulatory processes. These areas are considered critical to strengthening maritime oversight and creating a more transparent and efficient operating environment for shipping and marine-related businesses.
The NIMASA Director-General described the pact as a forward-looking step for Africa’s maritime future, noting that it reinforces a shared commitment to stronger surveillance systems, improved seafarer training and more effective cabotage administration. He added that expanding the use of digital platforms and continuous knowledge sharing would enhance operational effectiveness and support long-term sector growth.
Tanzania’s representative echoed this view, describing the MoU as the start of a new phase in regional maritime collaboration. She said the partnership is expected to enhance maritime governance, strengthen operational capacity and support the development of resilient maritime institutions capable of driving sustainable sectoral transformation.
The meeting was attended by senior officials from both sides, including the chairman of the NIMASA Governing Board, executive directors of the agency and Nigeria’s Alternate Permanent Representative to the IMO, underscoring the strategic importance attached to the agreement.
Industry stakeholders say the partnership positions Nigeria and Tanzania to play a more influential role in shaping Africa’s maritime development agenda. For MSMEs operating across shipping, logistics, fisheries, and marine services, improved surveillance, better-trained seafarers, and digitalized regulatory systems could reduce operational risks, improve compliance, and open new opportunities within the continent’s growing blue economy.
