By Fredrick Wright
Hope of Nigeria gaining a seat in the Category C of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) council has been dashed once again, as the nation losses election the fourth time..
SlyeNews reports that the IMO has elected 40 members into its council for the 2022-2023 biennium, of which Nigeria fails to make the seat.
Nigeria had contested and previously lost the same election twice – in 2011, 2017, 2019 and now lost the same election for the fourth time.
Nigeria was a former member of the global maritime council before it lost the seat in 2011, and race to resume its membership has become a herculean task.
20 nations that won elections into Category C, according to IMO are: Bahamas, Belgium, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, the Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey and Vanuatu.
IMO described the as “states 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,”
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.
10 nation that won for Category A are described as those with “the largest interest in providing international shipping services”
Category A nationa are: China, Greece, Italy, Japan, Norway, Panama, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Category B has 10 country, described as nations with “the largest interest in international seaborne trade”
They include: Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United Arab Emirates
The newly elected council are expected to 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.
