NIMASA, MALTA REGISTRY CHART ROADMAP FOR DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF NIGERIA’S SHIP REGISTER

NIMASA, MALTA REGISTRY CHART ROADMAP FOR DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF NIGERIA’S SHIP REGISTER
By Prince Benson Davies

Efforts to reposition Nigeria’s Ship Registry for global competitiveness received a boost in Athens, Greece, as the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency opened discussions with one of the world’s leading flag administrations. The Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, met with the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen of the Malta Ship Registry, Mr. Ivan Tabone, on the sidelines of Posidonia 2026, the world’s foremost shipping exhibition.

The conversation centered on how Nigeria can leverage Malta’s experience in registry management to improve speed, transparency, and regulatory compliance. Both parties examined practical areas for cooperation including digital registration platforms, streamlined documentation, enforcement of international conventions, and institutional capacity development. The goal, according to officials present, is to make the Nigerian Ship Registry more attractive to shipowners while ensuring strict adherence to safety and environmental standards.

Dr. Mobereola explained that NIMASA is driving a full automation agenda for the Nigerian Ship Registry as part of broader reforms under the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy. He said the reforms are designed to cut processing times, reduce administrative bottlenecks, and encourage more Nigerian-owned vessels to register under the national flag. Improved efficiency, he added, will also increase investor confidence and help Nigeria compete with established maritime nations.

He noted that the Federal Government’s vision for the marine and blue economy sector emphasizes technology, transparency, and service delivery. The agency, he said, is building a registry that provides real-time data, secure transactions, and predictable regulatory processes in line with international maritime requirements. This direction, he added, aligns with the leadership of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola, CON.

Mr. Ivan Tabone described Malta’s registry model as one built on strong legal structures, responsive administration, and consistent application of IMO regulations. He explained that the Malta Ship Registry manages over 9,500 vessels and ranks among the top six registries globally by gross tonnage. The registry’s success, he said, comes from balancing commercial flexibility with rigorous safety oversight, and that balance is what Nigeria can adapt to its own context.

Tabone expressed Malta’s willingness to support NIMASA through technical exchanges, training for registry staff, and guidance on digital systems that have improved service delivery in Malta. He noted that knowledge sharing between flag states helps raise global standards and creates a level playing field for shipowners.

Both NIMASA and the Malta Ship Registry agreed to develop a framework for cooperation that will include staff training, review of processes, and possible pilot projects on digital registration. The outcome of the engagement is expected to accelerate Nigeria’s drive to grow indigenous fleet capacity and position the country as a preferred flag state in Africa.

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The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, in discussion with the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen of the Malta Ship Registry, Mr. Ivan Tabone, on capacity building and knowledge sharing to modernize Nigeria’s Ship Registry. The meeting took place during Posidonia 2026, the world’s leading shipping exhibition in Athens, Greece.