NIMASA Moves To End Paperwork Delays, Automates Nigeria’s Ship Registry
NIMASA Moves To End Paperwork Delays, Automates Nigeria’s Ship Registry
… Agency to hold stakeholder webinars Oct. 6 and 8 to unveil 24-hour digital platform.
The era of cumbersome paperwork, endless queues and slow approvals at the Nigerian Ship Registry may soon be over as the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, moves to fully automate the nation’s vessel registration system.
The transition to a digital registry, a core plank of NIMASA’s modernisation agenda, is designed to make ship registration faster, more transparent and globally competitive, while boosting confidence in the Nigerian flag.
As part of the rollout, the Agency will host a two-part stakeholder webinar on Tuesday, October 6 and Thursday, October 8, 2026, to demonstrate the new platform and walk industry operators through the sweeping changes coming to vessel registration under the Nigerian flag.
The initiative, according to the Agency, is aimed at transforming service delivery, eliminating bottlenecks associated with the manual, paper-based system and repositioning the Nigerian Ship Registry as a preferred flag in the international shipping community.
Under the new automated system, shipowners and other users will enjoy round-the-clock access to registration services – 24 hours a day, seven days a week – a sharp departure from the rigid office-hour limitations of the old regime.
Applications will be submitted and treated online, approvals processed digitally, and electronic certificates issued in record time, reducing human interface, curbing delays and making the entire process traceable.
Beyond speed, the reform targets one of the most sensitive aspects of ship registration – transparency around vessel financing.
The platform is equipped to provide secure, real-time visibility of registry transactions, particularly the registration and tracking of ship mortgages, a critical factor for banks, insurers and investors.
The development is expected to give financial institutions and other stakeholders instant, reliable access to information for decision-making, thereby strengthening confidence in the integrity of the Nigerian Ship Registry.
Speaking on the landmark reform, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, said the automation represents a major leap in the Agency’s drive to make the Nigerian flag more business-friendly and internationally compliant.
“The automation of the Nigerian Ship Registry represents a significant step in our commitment to providing efficient, transparent and globally competitive services to shipowners and other maritime stakeholders. Our objective is to make the Nigerian flag more accessible, responsive and attractive through technology-driven processes that meet international standards,” Mobereola said.
He stressed that the reform aligns with global best practice, as leading flag administrations are increasingly migrating to digital platforms to serve a shipping industry that demands speed, accuracy and transparency.
Currently, the platform is undergoing rigorous user testing, with emphasis on functionality, cyber-security and ease of use ahead of full deployment. The October webinars are therefore strategic – to introduce stakeholders to the new system and harvest feedback to fine-tune it before it goes live.
The sessions will bring together a broad spectrum of the maritime economy including shipowners, ship managers, maritime lawyers, classification societies, financial institutions, insurers, and other operators who interact daily with the Ship Registry.
Industry watchers say if successfully implemented, the automated registry will not only slash paperwork and approval time but also enhance Nigeria’s standing in global shipping, make Nigerian-flagged vessels more attractive for financing, and improve the country’s competitiveness in the blue economy.
For now, all eyes are on the October 6 and 8 webinars, which will offer stakeholders a first-hand glimpse into the future of ship registration in Nigeria – a future where the Nigerian flag is expected to be faster, smarter and more transparent.
NIMASA said further details, including access links and the programme for the webinars, will be released through its official communication channels
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