IMO Council member is an honour, but when you fail after several attempts, it turns a disaster, that’s Nigeria’s situation’
By Uzor Odigbo
Nigeria has again lost its bid to be among 40 Council members of International Maritime Organization (IMO) whose Election was conducted today in London
Only Egypt made the list in Africa, a development a Maritime expert Ismail Aniemu described as a shame.
“Is a shame to the country. Why should we continue to loose election in small category “C”. Insults! How many times now that Nigeria has failed? It is uncountable lost”.
Nigeria it would be recalled had vigorously campaigned virtually to earn a slot in the exalted organization but failed.
Some Nigeria officials however attributed the failure to Nigeria Omicron Ban by the United Kingdom which largely hindered it’s officials from conducting physical campaign.
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Other reasons for the country’s failure was the activities of Sea Pirates that kept surfacing and harassing sea going vessels on Nigerias waters.
As part of the campaign tools, each contesting countries must certify and maintain enough security in it’s international territorial waters.
Countries that joined Egypt in Category C are Bahamas, Belgium, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Kuwait, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Turkey.
The Council members would serve for two years from 2022-2023 biennium.
The Council is the executive organ of IMO and is responsible, under the Assembly, for supervising the work of the Organization. Between sessions of the Assembly, the Council performs the functions of the Assembly, except that of making recommendations to Governments on maritime safety and pollution prevention.
The Assembly elected the following States to be Members of its Council for the 2022-2023 biennium:
Category A: 10 States with the largest interest in providing international shipping services (listed in alphabetical order)
China, Greece, Italy, Japan, Norway, Panama, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States
Category B: 10 States with the largest interest in international seaborne trade:
Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United Arab Emirates
Category C: 20 States not elected under (a) or (b) above, which have special interests in maritime transport or navigation and whose election to the Council will ensure the representation of all major geographic areas of the world: they include,
Bahamas, Belgium, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, the Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey and Vanuatu.
The newly elected Council will meet, following the conclusion of the 32nd Assembly, for its 126th session (on 15 December) and will elect its Chair and Vice-Chair for the next biennium.
The 32nd Assembly of IMO met in London at IMO Headquarters from 6 -15 December 2021.
All 175 Member States and three Associate Members are entitled to attend the Assembly, which is IMO’s highest governing body. The intergovernmental organizations with which agreements of co-operation have been concluded and international non-governmental organizations in consultative status with IMO are also invited to attend.
The Assembly normally meets once every two years in regular session. It is responsible for approving the work programme, voting the budget and determining the financial arrangements of the Organization. It also elects the Organization’s 40-Member Council