A growing dispute between Nigeria’s maritime regulator and coastal stakeholders is drawing national scrutiny, spotlighting issues of accountability, and community inclusion in the Niger Delta. At the centre of the petition is the Blueway Ocean Foundation, led by Mr. Iniodu Bassey Ndada, which has petitioned the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) over alleged failures in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) commitments.
Working in partnership with the Abade-Toru Mangal Community Development Initiative under Comrade Wilcox George, the Foundation claims NIMASA has not honoured CSR obligations or implemented agreements previously reached through ADR with the Abade-Toru Mangal community. The group also cited NIMASA’s failure to comply with point No. 4 of the Abuja Declaration on Gulf of Guinea Security, which mandates that “GoG States are to engage more with local communities, seafarers, private stakeholders.”
Community representatives argue that NIMASA’s inaction has stalled local development projects and weakened trust between federal maritime authorities and host communities whose livelihoods depend on maritime activity. For many residents, expected collaboration on maritime security and economic inclusion remains unfulfilled.
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The dispute was thereafter taken to the National Assembly on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, during a hearing before the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions in Abuja. However, NIMASA did not attend the session, continuing a pattern of non-appearance that drew criticism from lawmakers and petitioners.
After hearing submissions from the petitioner, the Committee Chairman,Hon. Kwamoti Laori expressed dissatisfaction with NIMASA’s repeated absence and adjourned the hearing to Tuesday, June 2, 2026. The Chairman directed the Clerk of the House to issue a final summons to NIMASA — the fifth summons issued regarding the petition. Sources confirm the notice has been prepared, underscoring the urgency of the matter.
Despite procedural delays, the Blueway Ocean Foundation and its partner, the Abade-Toru Mangal Community Development Initiative, remain firm in their demands. The Foundation’s push for accountability is rooted in outcomes from the 10th thematic session of the 2019 Global Maritime Security Conference, “Maritime Security Partnerships: The Roles of Civil Societies,” which reinforced the groups’ resolve to engage NIMASA on community inclusion.
Blueway Ocean Foundation and Stakeholders in Abade-Toru Mangal now await the June 2 hearing with cautious optimism, hoping for meaningful engagement and enforcement of agreements meant to benefit host communities along Nigeria’s maritime corridor.
For many observers, the case has become a test of institutional responsibility in sectors where local cooperation is vital to national security and economic development. The community’s position is clear: dialogue, accountability, and action must finally deliver on promises made.
The general public awaits an impartial approach to the matter, while many have expressed confidence in the House Committee on Public Petitions to address the matter diligently for the future of the nations maritime industry
