NIMASA Partners Malta Ship Registry to Upgrade Nigeria’s Ship Registration System
The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola and the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen of the Malta Ship Registry, Mr. Ivan Tabone, having a conversation on the need for capacity building and knowledge sharing towards developing Nigeria’s Ship Registry in line with global best practice. The engagement took place on the sidelines of Posidonia 2026, the world's foremost shipping exhibition, in Athens, Greece.
NIMASA Partners Malta Ship Registry to Upgrade Nigeria’s Ship Registration System
By Success Okezie
On the sidelines of Posidonia 2026 in Athens, Greece, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, met with Mr. Ivan Tabone, Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen of the Malta Ship Registry. The high-level discussion focused on how Malta’s proven expertise can help Nigeria modernize and reposition its ship registry for global competitiveness.
The meeting centered on four key areas: streamlining ship registration processes, improving regulatory efficiency, driving digital transformation, and adopting institutional best practices. Both NIMASA and the Malta Ship Registry explored technical cooperation opportunities that can make Nigeria’s registry faster, more transparent, and more attractive to international shipowners.
Dr. Mobereola used the platform to restate NIMASA’s reform agenda. He affirmed the Agency’s commitment to fully automate the Nigerian Ship Registry so it meets international standards and global expectations. According to him, the reforms underway are targeted at reducing bureaucratic delays, encouraging more Nigerian-owned vessels to fly the national flag, strengthening investor confidence, and establishing Nigeria as a top maritime hub in Africa.
_“We are developing a transparent, technology-driven registry that supports the growth of Nigeria’s maritime sector. This aligns directly with the vision of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy under His Excellency, Adegboyega Oyetola, CON,”_ Dr. Mobereola said.
The Malta Ship Registry is one of the most successful registries in the world. It ranks as the largest merchant shipping register in Europe and is among the top six globally by gross tonnage. With more than 9,500 vessels under its flag, Malta has built a reputation for a solid legal framework, efficient administration, and strict compliance with international maritime conventions.
By tapping into Malta’s experience, NIMASA aims to replicate that model of efficiency and credibility. The goal is to attract more vessels to the Nigerian flag, create new opportunities for indigenous operators, and boost revenue for the country’s maritime economy.
The strategic engagement at Posidonia 2026 signals NIMASA’s deliberate approach: partner with world-class registries, adopt best practices, and build a Nigerian Ship Registry that shipowners trust and investors respect.
About The Author
