Strengthening port state control in West and Central Africa

The Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control for West and Central African Region (Abuja MoU), with the support of Lloyd’s Register Foundation, today formally launched a five-year regional capacity building programme aimed at promoting greater awareness of the strategic importance of Port State Control and encouraging sustained policy support for its effective implementation.

The programme seeks to enhance the knowledge, skills, and operational capabilities of Port State Control Officers throughout the region, thereby reinforcing efforts to uphold maritime safety, safeguard seafarers’ welfare, protect the marine environment,  and strengthen the effectiveness and integrity of the Port State Control regime across West and Central Africa..

The project commenced with an inaugural ceremony and the official opening of the Abuja MoU Regional Workshop for Directors-General/ Chief Executive Officers and Heads of Port State Control, taking place from 29 June to 1 July 2026 at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The workshop brings together senior maritime leaders, Director Generals and Chief Executive Officers of Maritime Administrations, Heads of Port State Control, technical experts and regional partners to agree on practical actions for building a future-ready Port State Control regime anchored on leadership, people, governance and performance.

Supported by Lloyd’s Register Foundation and led by Abuja MoU, the project responds to practical challenges affecting Port State Control in the region, including uneven inspection coverage, inconsistent inspector capability, regulatory implementation gaps, and the need for stronger transparency, data quality and quality assurance systems.

Over the five-year period, the project will support targeted training based on the train-the-trainer model for up to 200 Port State Control Officers, establish a regional mentorship model between high-performing and developing inspection administrations, and further support national roadmaps for the ratification, domestication, implementation and enforcement of key International Maritime Organization (IMO) and International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions.

For too long, Port State Control in Central and West Africa has been characterised by knowledge gaps in the implementation and enforcement of relevant conventions and in the understanding of international best practices. By ensuring that ships calling at the region’s ports comply with internationally recognised safety, environmental and labour standards, we can build resilient marine supply chains, create safe and sustainable jobs, and support local ocean economies.”

Captain Sunday M. Umoren, Secretary-General, Abuja MoU

Port State Control is a critical second line of defence against unsafe, polluting and non-compliant ships. While the Abuja MoU region has made important progress, inspection activity and compliance with the regional minimum target of inspecting 15% of foreign ship calls remain uneven across Member States.

The workshop marks the first major implementation step under the programme. Sessions will focus on strategic leadership, IMO regulatory frameworks, PSC enforcement, labour compliance, data systems, emerging risks, human capacity, integrity, regional harmonisation and post-workshop implementation commitments.

The programme will also strengthen regional coordination, inspectors’ professional development, regulatory harmonisation, inspection consistency, integrity in maritime operations and data-driven decision-making. It will draw lessons from mature Port State Control regimes, including the Paris and Tokyo MoUs, while adapting them to the legal and institutional realities of West and Central Africa.

Nearly half of Africa’s population is under 20 years old. To support this large, young demographic in entering the seafaring workforce, we need to ensure we are developing a skills base that can keep pace with the demands of a rapidly transitioning maritime industry. By facilitating safer outcomes for vessels and seafarers, we hope this project with Abuja MoU will contribute to wider system transformation, helping Africa realise its potential within the wider ocean economy.”

Sam Megwa, Africa Lead, Lloyd’s Register Foundation