As part of its sustained regulatory initiatives to combat abuses in the maritime sector, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has launched a comprehensive enforcement operation to stamp out non-compliance with maritime laws and guidelines in the nation’s territorial waters and offshore domain.
The latest operation, code-named “Operation Zero Tolerance for Non-Compliance”, aims to strengthen regulatory oversight and entrench discipline within the maritime sector.
To achieve this, vessel operators are to ensure that their vessels are registered and possess valid statutory certificates as well as maintain accurate and up-to-date ownership records
The latest operational framework also requires that all operators adhere to vessel ownership, registration, manning, and construction regulations, and prioritize timely payment of statutory levies, fees, and charges
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To ensure strict compliance with the latest regulatory guidelines, the NIMASA has granted a 30-day grace period, effective from January 5, 2026, for vessel owners and other operators in the sector to conduct self-audits and address outstanding regulatory gaps.
The agency warned that failure to comply with these guidelines by any stakeholder would attract sanctions, including vessel detention, monetary penalties, denial of port clearance, among others.
