By Sylva OBASI
Established on October 22, 1999 with regional Secretariat in Lagos, the Abuja Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control operates under a cooperative agreement with the International Maritime Organization as an inter-governmental organization dedicated to harmonising port state control procedures, eliminate substandard shipping operations and protect Marine environment across the West and Central African region.
Comprising of 22 countries which include: Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, Namibia, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Togo, the Abuja MoU is one of the 10 PSC Regimes across the world.
Guided by the dynamic and visionary leadership of it’s current Secretary-General, Capt Sunday Michael Umoren, the Abuja MoU is poised to strengthen Port State Control Leadership, inspector capability, regulatory alignment and performance output to support safer ships, better seafarers’ welfare and stronger maritime governance across West and Central Africa.
Spurred by this quest and with the kind
funding and support of the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, the Abuja MoU launched a five year capacity building project whose aims is to address inspection coverage, inspector capability, regulatory implementation, data quality, institutional governance and integrity in Port State Control across the region.
To formally unveil the project, Abuja MoU organised a three day regional workshop for Directors-General, Chief Executive Officers and Heads of Port State Control in the region with the theme, “A Future-Ready Port State Control: Leadership, People, Governance and Performance for Safer Maritime Systems”. The event held in Lagos, Nigeria from June 29 to July 1, 2026.
Speaking while delivering his welcome address to participants at the opening ceremony on Monday, the Secretary-General, Capt Sunday Umoren warmly welcomed delegates to the program and also set the tone for what many described as a crucial gathering meant to chart the course of the region for a future-ready PSC regime.
Explaining the reason behind the project, Umoren said the programme became necessary because only 16 of the 22 Abuja MoU member states consistently conducted Port State Control inspections between 2016 and 2025, while compliance with the regional target of inspecting at least 15 per cent of foreign vessels calling at national ports remained uneven.
He also identified challenges responsible for this shortcoming to include inadequate personnel, limited technical capacity, weak legal frameworks, insufficient funding and poor data management systems.
Speaking further, he stressed that the initiative represents a shift from sporadic training interventions to a coordinated, long-term institutional strengthening programme aimed at producing more competent inspectors, improving inspection quality and reducing the presence of substandard ships in the region.
He further disclosed that the training is designed to transform PSC systems through a comprehensive four-pillar framework of which he explained that the first pillar, People, will focus on structured training for about 200 Port State Control Officers using a train-the-trainer model, stressing that the programme goes beyond knowledge transfer to building practical competence and institutional capacity.
According to him, the second pillar, Mentorship and Professional Development, seeks to harness the region’s existing expertise and create mechanisms for experienced professionals to transfer knowledge and skills to the next generation of inspectors.
The third pillar, Governance and Regulatory Alignment, will support member states in strengthening legal and institutional frameworks through the ratification, domestication, implementation and enforcement of relevant international maritime conventions, while also improving readiness for the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Member State Audit Scheme.
Umoren said the fourth pillar, Performance and Data, is aimed at transforming the Abuja MoU Information System (AMIS) into a strategic tool for regional analysis, accountability and evidence-based decision-making, rather than merely a platform for uploading inspection reports.
Speaking about anticipated outcome, he noted that the programme is expected to produce more competent inspectors, improve compliance with regional inspection targets, strengthen national maritime administrations and reduce the prevalence of substandard shipping in the region.
Concluding his address, Umoren called on member states to demonstrate commitment by appointing national focal points, nominating qualified participants, retaining trained officers in relevant positions and providing the resources necessary for effective implementation. Even as he further urged maritime administrations, regional partners and international organisations to work together to ensure the programme delivers measurable results over the next five years.
“A Port State Control regime is only as strong as the men and women who conduct the inspections, interpret the conventions, and enforce the standards. Without adequately trained, empowered, and motivated inspectors, our PSC systems remain theoretical constructs rather than effective operational tools.
“Lloyd’s Register Foundation brings support. International and regional partners bring expertise. The Secretariat brings coordination. Member States bring sovereign authority, inspectors, laws, budgets and implementation. When each party does its part, the region moves forward.”, the SG concluded.
PLATFORM REPORTERS who covered the 3 days program gathered that the event which began with a high-powered Opening Ceremony on Monday, continued with Technical Presentations, Panel Discussions, Workshops, Interactive Sessions, Cultural Dance Presentations and ended on Wednesday evening with a dinner event.
As the event came to a close, government officials, delegates of member states and indeed participants pledged their support for the 5 years training program with a high expectation of achieving a future-ready PSC regime throughout the 22 countries of West and Central African Region under Abuja MoU by the end of year 2030.
