The Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) are in a strategic partnership to boost maritime trade in the Gulf of Guinea by exploring the diversion of vessels from the conflict-prone Red Sea, where armed tension continues to disrupt global shipping.

Both institutions have also finalised arrangements to jointly support dry dock development across West and Central Africa.

The Secretary-General of MOWCA, Dr Paul Adalikwu, stated that the organisation remains committed to ensuring safe and cost-effective shipping within the maritime jurisdictions of its member states and to position the Gulf of Guinea as a viable alternative trade corridor.

He noted that MOWCA has been in contact with governments and multinational corporations operating within the West and Central African maritime domain.

According to Adalikwu, these efforts are aimed at suppressing piracy and other threats to the safety of crew members, cargo and vessels.

Speaking recently in Brazzaville during his maiden meeting with the newly appointed Congolese Minister of Transport, Civil Aviation and Merchant Marine, Ingrid Olga Ebouka-Babakas, Adalikwu said these strides are being made with the active support of the AfDB to strengthen the blue economy drive across Africa.

The MOWCA boss added that the dry dock initiative is designed to deepen maritime trade beyond coastal areas and to enhance logistical connectivity between seaports and the hinterlands.

Adalikwu reiterated MOWCA’s commitment to making inland waterways more viable in member countries and highlighted the economic significance of safe and efficient ferry services on inland waterways.

He further stressed the need for stronger regulations and stricter enforcement of safety protocols, particularly in Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

On the planned transformation of MOWCA into the African Maritime Organisation (AMO), Adalikwu disclosed that the organisation is working closely with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the African Union (AU), and the Association of African Maritime Administrations (AAMA) to achieve this objective.

He revealed that as part of the transformation process, a meeting of experts is scheduled to be held in June 2025 in collaboration with the AfDB, to further advance the agenda.

In her remarks, the Congolese Minister commended Adalikwu’s unwavering dedication to encouraging African nations to fully leverage their maritime resources.

Ebouka-Babakas pledged Congo’s support toward the realisation of MOWCA’s strategic goals and praised Adalikwu’s commitment to actualising the vision of the organisation’s founding fathers, 50 years after its establishment.

She also urged Adalikwu to sustain efforts toward transforming MOWCA into AMO, stressing the need for Africa to speak with one voice on maritime issues, especially considering the support received from partners such as the AfDB, AUC, AAMA and others.