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By Kenneth Jukpor
Despite high hopes that Nigeria would seal a place on the Governing Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the nation failed at the just concluded polls.
It appears the nation’s well-reported strides in ensuring peace in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) and the wide accolades by international bodies, regional and national organizations were unable to sway votes in favour of Nigeria.
The Assembly of the IMO has elected the Members of its Council for the 2022-2023 biennium, with the Category C comprising; Bahamas, Belgium, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, the Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey and Vanuatu.
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.
Category A comprises 10 States with the largest interest in providing international shipping services. They are: China, Greece, Italy, Japan, Norway, Panama, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
Category B include States with the largest interest in international seaborne trade; Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United Arab Emirates
The newly elected Council will 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.
The 32nd Assembly of IMO is meeting in London at IMO Headquarters from 6 -15 December 2021.
All 175 Member States and three Associate Members are entitled to attend the Assembly, which is IMO’s highest governing body. The intergovernmental organizations with which agreements of co-operation have been concluded and international non-governmental organizations in consultative status with IMO are also invited to attend.
