NIMASA launches Operation Zero Tolerance to enforce maritime compliance, warning ship owners and offshore operators of strict penalties from February 2026.
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has launched a sweeping enforcement initiative aimed at restoring discipline and accountability across Nigeria’s maritime industry.
The campaign, officially named Operation Zero Tolerance, introduces a strict compliance framework that places vessel operators, shipping companies, and offshore service providers on notice over violations of maritime laws.
Under the new directive, operators have a 30-day window, beginning January 5, 2026, to regularise their operations or face severe enforcement actions by February 4, 2026.
NIMASA has made it clear that this deadline is non-negotiable, signalling a shift toward stricter regulatory oversight in Nigerian waters.
According to the agency, Operation Zero Tolerance is designed to address long-standing gaps in compliance that have affected maritime safety, revenue collection, indigenous participation, and environmental protection.
The initiative was formally communicated through a Marine Notice issued in line with NIMASA’s statutory authority.
The legal foundation for the enforcement drive rests on key maritime legislations, including the NIMASA Act 2007, the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003, and the Merchant Shipping Act 2007.
These laws empower the agency to regulate vessel operations, enforce safety standards, and ensure that Nigeria derives maximum benefit from its maritime domain.
NIMASA’s Head of Public Relations, Osagie Edward, explained that the compliance exercise applies to a wide spectrum of industry participants.
These include vessel and ship owners, shipping companies, operators and managers, charterers, shipping agents, and masters of merchant vessels.
The scope also extends to international and local oil companies, offshore installation operators, and vessels operating within Free Trade Zones.
A central focus of Operation Zero Tolerance is proper vessel registration and documentation.
NIMASA has identified irregular vessel ownership records, expired statutory certificates, and false declarations as recurring issues that undermine effective maritime governance.
Operators are therefore required to ensure that all registration details accurately reflect ownership status and operational purpose.
Another critical area of enforcement is adherence to cabotage provisions. The Cabotage Act mandates Nigerian ownership, registration, manning, and, where applicable, local vessel construction for vessels operating in coastal and inland shipping.
NIMASA stressed that waivers previously granted under the cabotage regime will now be more rigorously reviewed, and unjustified exemptions may be withdrawn.
In addition to technical and operational compliance, the agency is placing strong emphasis on the payment of statutory levies and charges.
These include mandatory fees that support maritime safety infrastructure, capacity building, and regulatory administration.
Operators may be required at any point to present verifiable proof of payment, with failure to do so attracting sanctions.
To enforce compliance, NIMASA plans to deploy a combination of random and intelligence-led inspections.
These checks will take place at seaports, terminals, offshore platforms, and anchorages.
The inspections will involve both physical examination of vessels and detailed scrutiny of documentation, with records cross-checked against the agency’s internal databases.
While the enforcement tone is firm, NIMASA has allowed a grace period to encourage voluntary compliance.
The 30-day window provides operators an opportunity to conduct internal audits, identify regulatory gaps, and correct deficiencies without immediate penalties.
This approach, according to the agency, balances enforcement with fairness.
However, NIMASA warned that once the grace period expires, sanctions will be applied decisively.
Penalties under Operation Zero Tolerance include vessel detention, substantial monetary fines, denial of port clearance, and suspension or withdrawal of operational licences and cabotage waivers until full compliance is achieved.
NIMASA’s Director-General, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, described the initiative as a strategic step toward strengthening Nigeria’s maritime ecosystem.
He noted that effective regulation is essential for improving safety at sea, enhancing maritime security, protecting the marine environment, and building a sustainable indigenous shipping industry.
Mobereola urged industry stakeholders to see compliance not as a burden but as a shared responsibility.
According to him, consistent enforcement under Operation Zero Tolerance will help consolidate previous regulatory gains and position Nigeria as a credible and efficient maritime hub in the region.
As the deadline approaches, industry analysts expect operators to reassess their compliance status, operational costs, and regulatory risk exposure.
The enforcement drive is likely to reshape behaviour within Nigeria’s shipping and offshore sectors, reinforcing the message that regulatory compliance is no longer optional but a core requirement for doing business in Nigerian waters.
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