The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has announced a major management reshuffle as part of a wider strategy to strengthen institutional efficiency, boost inter-departmental collaboration, and advance Nigeria’s maritime reform agenda.
The development marks a significant move by the agency’s Director-General, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, who has consistently emphasized restructuring, performance, and accountability as key pillars for achieving NIMASA’s mandate in 2025 and beyond.
New Leadership Structure and Key Appointments
In a statement signed by the agency’s Head of Public Relations, Osagie Edward, NIMASA confirmed the redeployment of several senior management officers to new roles designed to optimize service delivery and operational coordination.
Under the new leadership framework, Hajia Moji Jimoh takes over as Director of Administration and Human Resources, while Aishatu Jidda assumes the role of Director of Planning, Research, and Data Management Services.
Other appointments include Barr. Heaky Dimowo as Director of Legal Services/Board Secretary, Isichei Osamgbi as Director of SERVICOM, and Mrs. Olubusola Obasanjo-Akande as Director of the Western Zone.
Additionally, Engr. Christopher Amakulo was named Director of Special Duties, Ms. Gloria Anyasodo as Director of Cabotage Services, and Salihu Yelwa as Director of Shipping Development.
Mrs. Nneka Obianyor will lead the Reforms Coordination and Blue Economy Directorate, while Umar Ibrahim Sidi takes charge of Maritime Labour Services.
The list also includes Dr. Oma Ofodile as Director of Marine Environment Management, Mr. Buba Umar as Director of the Abuja Zonal Office, and Ahmed Shittien as Special Adviser, Technical, to the Director-General.
Mobereola’s Vision Behind the NIMASA Management Reshuffle
Explaining the rationale behind the reshuffle, Dr. Dayo Mobereola stated that the exercise was aimed at improving efficiency and fostering synergy among NIMASA’s departments in order to better align the agency’s operations with national maritime goals.
“The redeployment reflects deliberate efforts to rejig operations, foster collaboration among departments, and drive sustainable maritime development across Nigeria,” he said.
“We must inject new energy and ideas into the system to deliver on our strategic objectives and reposition NIMASA as a globally competitive maritime regulator.”
According to him, the management reshuffle is not merely a personnel adjustment but a structural reform designed to ensure that each department functions optimally in supporting Nigeria’s maritime growth, job creation, and blue economy aspirations.
NIMASA’s Expanding Mandate and Strategic Priorities
NIMASA plays a crucial role in regulating Nigeria’s maritime industry — from shipping development and marine environment protection to seafarer welfare, safety enforcement, and Cabotage implementation.
Under the NIMASA management reshuffle, the agency is prioritizing reforms in five major areas: digital transformation, marine environment management, blue economy development, improved Cabotage enforcement, and stakeholder engagement.
Dr. Mobereola, appointed in March 2024, has been leading the agency’s strategic turnaround efforts.
A former Lagos State Commissioner for Transport and technocrat with decades of experience in the transport and logistics sector, he has been praised for bringing a results-oriented approach to public service.
Since taking office, he has championed a culture of efficiency, transparency, and innovation — key principles that informed the latest restructuring move.
Driving the Blue Economy and Maritime Reforms
The blue economy remains central to NIMASA’s current strategic vision.
The creation of a Directorate of Reforms Coordination and Blue Economy, now led by Mrs. Nneka Obianyor, signals the agency’s renewed commitment to unlocking the economic potential of Nigeria’s marine and coastal resources.
Mobereola has repeatedly stressed that Nigeria’s maritime resources, if properly harnessed, could contribute significantly to GDP growth, job creation, and export diversification.
He believes that strengthening leadership within NIMASA will accelerate the country’s integration into global maritime value chains and attract new investment into shipping, shipbuilding, and logistics infrastructure.
Performance, Transparency, and Collaboration
Beyond the leadership changes, the NIMASA management reshuffle is also expected to address longstanding challenges in operational efficiency, including bureaucratic bottlenecks, overlapping departmental functions, and delayed decision-making processes.
Industry observers have commended the move, noting that periodic restructuring is necessary to keep the agency responsive to global maritime trends and domestic economic realities.
“The new structure provides an opportunity to improve collaboration across key directorates, ensure greater accountability, and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in global shipping,” said a maritime analyst based in Lagos.
NIMASA has also pledged to intensify inter-agency collaboration with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Nigerian Navy, and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to ensure seamless enforcement of maritime regulations and the protection of national waters.
Institutional Reform for Sustainable Growth
As part of its ongoing reform agenda, NIMASA plans to deepen automation in its service delivery processes, strengthen Cabotage compliance monitoring, and promote environmental sustainability through stricter marine pollution control.
The latest management changes reflect a strategic reorientation toward efficiency and accountability — key elements for achieving the agency’s 2025 objectives.
According to internal sources, the reshuffle affected 56 management staff across various departments and zonal offices nationwide, underscoring the scale of the agency’s transformation agenda.
The NIMASA management reshuffle marks a critical phase in Nigeria’s broader maritime reform journey.
Under Dr. Mobereola’s leadership, the agency appears set on a path of renewal — one anchored in professionalism, transparency, and innovation.
With strengthened leadership, renewed focus on the blue economy, and improved collaboration across the maritime value chain, NIMASA is positioning itself to play a more transformative role in Nigeria’s economic diversification drive and the global shipping industry.
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