Nigeria and South Korea Deepen Maritime Ties to Boost Capacity Development



In a significant diplomatic move to bolster maritime cooperation, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, welcomed the Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Nigeria, Mr. Lee Sang-ho, to NIMASA headquarters in Lagos.

The visit marks a renewed commitment by both nations to strengthen bilateral relations, with a sharp focus on maritime education, safety, and capacity development—key pillars in the growth of Nigeria’s emerging blue economy.

According to a statement by Osagie Edward, FNIPR, Head of Public Relations at NIMASA, the meeting underscored the mutual understanding that maritime capacity development is critical for driving economic growth, enhancing governance, and ensuring safety at sea.


Mr. Sang-ho emphasized Korea’s readiness to partner with Nigeria through technical cooperation, knowledge sharing, and maritime training initiatives.

“The Republic of Korea values its long-standing relationship with Nigeria and is committed to helping build a skilled maritime workforce that supports sustainable development,” he said.

In response, Dr. Mobereola expressed gratitude for Korea’s continued support and reaffirmed NIMASA’s commitment to leveraging international partnerships to advance Nigeria’s maritime ambitions.

“Our goal is to make Nigeria a top maritime nation in Africa. Achieving this requires strategic investment in human capital and institutional capacity—and partnerships like this are essential,” he noted.

Key areas discussed during the meeting included Training programs for Nigerian seafarers, Technical exchange and maritime innovation and Institutional development and governance support

The collaboration reflects NIMASA’s broader strategy under Dr. Mobereola’s leadership to forge global alliances that inject expertise, innovation, and investment into Nigeria’s maritime space.

As the international community ramps up attention on the blue economy and maritime security, the Nigeria, Korea partnership stands out as a proactive step towards sustainable maritime development and enhanced regional competitiveness.

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