NIGERIA’S MARITIME STAKEHOLDERS DEMAND STRONGER WELFARE AND PROTECTION FOR SEAFARERS AT 2026 DAY OF THE SEAFARER

NIGERIA’S MARITIME STAKEHOLDERS DEMAND STRONGER WELFARE AND PROTECTION FOR SEAFARERS AT 2026 DAY OF THE SEAFARER
By prince Benson Davies
Maritime stakeholders in Nigeria have called for deliberate action to improve the welfare, safety and professional growth of seafarers, describing them as central to the movement of global trade and Nigeria’s blue economy ambitions. The demand was the dominant message at the 2026 Day of the Seafarer celebration hosted by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency in Lagos.

Held under the theme “Carrying World Trade, Carrying the Risk”, the event convened members of the National Assembly, federal ministries, security agencies, labour unions, and industry operators. Discussions focused on the risks seafarers face daily and the policies required to keep Nigeria’s maritime workforce competitive internationally.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Senator Wasiu Sanni Eshinlokun, delivered the National Assembly’s goodwill message. He said the theme captures the sacrifice and exposure that define seafaring. He pledged continued legislative backing for maritime safety, welfare standards, indigenous shipping capacity, and maritime education. According to him, seafarers must have policies that protect their lives at sea and create clear pathways for professional advancement so Nigerian ratings and officers can compete globally.

Representing the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, the Director of Maritime Safety and Security, Mr. Makoji Musa, restated the Federal Government’s commitment to decent work and workforce development. He said seafarers remain the backbone of international commerce and that government policy will prioritize their protection, skills upgrade, and access to international opportunities. The minister described investment in seafarers as direct investment in Nigeria’s economic future under the Blue Economy agenda.

NIMASA Director General, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, said that while seafarers facilitate over 80 percent of global trade, many still contend with occupational hazards, security risks, and long periods away from families. He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to enforcing the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, which sets minimum standards for seafarers’ conditions of service. He also highlighted the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme, under which 2,459 cadets have been trained so far.

Dr. Mobereola further disclosed that the adoption of the ITF/ILO International Wage Scale into Nigerian seafarers’ Conditions of Service has produced wage increases of over 150 percent. He said NIMASA will keep welfare and professional development at the centre of its regulatory mandate, noting that a resilient maritime sector depends on a motivated, well-trained and protected workforce.

The Chief of the Naval Staff was represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abdullahi Mustapha. He commended Nigerian seafarers for their contribution to national and global trade and assured stakeholders of the Nigerian Navy’s continued partnership with NIMASA to secure the maritime domain and support safe and efficient shipping operations.

President-General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Comrade Francis Bunu, commended NIMASA for its consistent interventions to improve working conditions and capacity. He said the agency’s efforts are raising the global relevance of Nigeria’s maritime labour force.

The event ended with stakeholders pledging sustained support for NIMASA’s work on maritime safety, human capacity development, and seafarers’ welfare as Nigeria pushes to strengthen its position as a leading maritime nation.