NIMASA gives operators 30 days to conduct self-audit, warns of sanctions

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency has given maritime operators a 30-day deadline to regularise their operations, warning that non-compliance will trigger enforcement action across Nigeria’s waters.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, NIMASA said the grace period for self-audit and voluntary compliance takes effect from January 5, 2026. The notice was signed by Osagie Edward, the agency’s deputy director and head of public relations.

NIMASA stated that operators who fail to comply after the deadline will face sanctions, including vessel detention, financial penalties, withdrawal of waivers or operating licences, and denial of port clearance until full compliance is achieved.

The agency’s director-general, Dayo Mobereola, said the directive aligns with NIMASA’s mandate to strengthen indigenous shipping, improve maritime safety and security, protect the marine environment and enforce Nigeria’s maritime laws.

Mobereola urged industry players to take advantage of the window period, stressing that cooperation between regulators and operators remains critical to sustaining regulatory gains and ensuring safe and secure maritime operations.

NIMASA also announced the launch of a nationwide enforcement drive, tagged ‘Operation Zero Tolerance for Non-Compliance,’ aimed at tightening adherence to existing maritime regulations.

The operation, issued through a marine notice, draws its authority from the NIMASA Act 2007, the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003 and the Merchant Shipping Act 2007, among other laws.

Under the initiative, NIMASA said all vessel owners, operators, managers, shipping companies and agents, oil companies, charterers, offshore installation operators and Free Trade Zone vessel operators must meet statutory requirements before operating in Nigerian waters.

The agency listed key obligations to include valid vessel registration, up-to-date certifications, accurate ownership documentation and compliance with cabotage rules covering ownership, registration, manning and vessel construction. It also emphasised the prompt payment and remittance of statutory levies and fees.

As part of the operation, NIMASA said it will conduct random and targeted inspections, cross-check documentation against its databases and carry out compliance checks at ports, terminals and offshore locations. Operators must present proof of payment of all applicable fees when requested, the agency added.

Oluwatosin Ogunjuyigbe is a writer and journalist who covers business, finance, technology, and the changing forces shaping Nigeria’s economy. He focuses on turning complex ideas into clear, compelling stories.

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