The Nigerian Navy has thrown its weight behind the upcoming 2025 edition of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) Annual Maritime Lecture (MAMAL), with a strong call for Nigeria’s removal from the War Risk Insurance Premium list.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by MARAN executives and the MAMAL 2025 planning committee, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Michael Gregory Oamen, described the continued classification of Nigeria as a high-risk maritime zone as “unjust” and “unfounded.”
L-R Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Michael Gregory Oamen Recieving Award from Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria MARAN president Mr Godfrey Bivbere
“There is absolutely no reason why Nigeria should still be on any war risk list. For the past three to four years, there has been no piracy incident in our waters. This continued classification is unjustifiable,” Rear Admiral Oamen stated.
The naval chief highlighted Nigeria’s sustained maritime safety record, citing over three years of piracy-free waters, enhanced naval presence, deployment of surveillance technology like the Falcon Eye, and strategic regional partnerships.
He urged MARAN to escalate the issue by petitioning the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and engaging key maritime agencies including NIMASA, NPA, and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.
In his address, MARAN President, Mr. Godfrey Bivbere, formally invited the Navy to participate in MAMAL 2025, scheduled for August 27 at Four Points by Sheraton, Lagos.
He revealed the lecture’s theme: “Addressing the Burden of War Risk Insurance on Nigerian Maritime Trade.”
Bivbere emphasized the economic impact of war risk charges, noting that the unnecessary premiums imposed by insurers and shipping companies are being transferred to importers and ultimately to consumers.
“We are not at war. Nigerian waters have remained safe for over three years, yet vessels calling at our ports still face unjustified war risk surcharges,” he said.
MARAN, he added, plans to engage the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and global insurers directly to demand Nigeria’s delisting from the war risk classification.
The association also announced plans to launch a maritime industry compendium in September, profiling key agencies such as the Nigerian Navy, NIMASA, and the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
In response, Rear Admiral Oamen pledged full support for the lecture and confirmed the Navy would present a paper at the event, showcasing its achievements in maritime security.
He lauded MARAN’s role in public advocacy and welcomed the association’s proposal for journalists to observe naval exercises in the Gulf of Guinea, as part of its transparency and public engagement efforts.
The FOC affirmed that the Navy’s partnership with MARAN had been officially restored, expressing confidence in continued collaboration to strengthen Nigeria’s maritime sector.
The MARAN delegation expressed appreciation to the Navy for its unwavering support and reaffirmed its commitment to using MAMAL 2025 as a platform to drive industry reforms.
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