For the fifth time back to back Nigeria lost in election into the Council of International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in London on Friday.
The country contested for a Category C seat in the council which is reserved for 20 countries not elected in Categories A and B and which have special interests in maritime transport or navigation, whose election to the Council will ensure the representation of all major geographic areas of the world.
Nigeria’s failure to clinch the seat is happening the fifth time after Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and Federal Ministry of Transport had made efforts campaigning and canvassing support for the country’s return to the council.
Bahamas, Belgium, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Kuwait, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, the Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand and Turkey were the 20 countries elected under Category C.
Under Category B, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Netherlands, Spain, and United Arab Emirates were elected.
For Category A, which is the topmost council members of the body comprising countries with the largest interest in providing international shipping services, China, Greece, Italy, Japan, Norway, Panama, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, United States were elected
The Council, which is elected by the IMO Assembly for two-year terms beginning after each regular session of the Assembly, is the executive organ of IMO and is responsible, under the Assembly, for supervising the work of the Organization.
Between sessions of the Assembly, which is every two years, the Council performs all the functions of the Assembly, except the function of making recommendations to Governments on maritime safety and pollution prevention.
Nigeria was expelled from the Organisation during the military regime of the late Gen. Sanni Abacha, especially after the killing of environmentalist Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni Nine.
It was readmitted in 2000 when the then Minister of Transport, Chief Ojo Madueke, led a Nigerian delegation to win an election into the Council, in Category C. The country could however not retain the seat in subsequent election, but regained it nine years ago in the same Category. It has however lost re-election since 2009 and has been out of the council for a decade.
