Nigeria is projected to experience a shortage of approximately 96,000 seafarers in its maritime sector by 2026 unless urgent corrective measures are implemented to address the identified manpower imbalance. This warning was issued by maritime expert Capt. Konni Duniya during the 2024 Lecture Series at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria in Oron, Akwa-Ibom State. The event was titled, “Addressing Human and Institutional Capacity Development in Nigeria’s Maritime Sector Through Stakeholders Partnership.”
Capt. Duniya expressed grave concerns about the impending shortage of competent seafarers, attributing it to various factors such as wars, retirements, and disruptions in the sector. She emphasized the dominance of foreign seafarers in Nigeria’s maritime industry, the issuance of fraudulent Certificates of Competency (CoC), and the absence of a reliable database to validate the education, training, and experience of cadets.
To combat these issues, Duniya called for the Federal Government to organize regular training sessions for existing seafarers and establish capacity-building programs for new entrants using emerging trends and technologies. She stated, “Nigeria is the only country with unemployed seafarers in the world, despite the cabotage law, which has been poorly implemented, and a global shortage of seafarers.”
She also highlighted the need for better management within the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to address problems related to sea time and license forgery by leveraging blockchain and cloud computing technologies. Furthermore, Duniya urged Nigeria to actively market its seafarers on the global stage and establish Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with countries like Ghana and South Africa to improve job placements and welfare.
“The Maritime Academy of Nigeria is positioned to compete globally in terms of standards,” she noted, calling on the federal government to create an enabling environment for the academy to fulfill its objectives regarding seafarers’ training and licensing.
Mr. Eric Umezurike, Managing Director of First Rit Nigeria Limited, echoed Duniya’s sentiments, arguing that Nigerian seafarers should not be left unemployed while their foreign counterparts enjoy better job placements and welfare benefits. He proposed that the federal government establish a national carrier based on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to facilitate the deployment of maritime graduates for sea time experience after graduation.
The urgent need for action in Nigeria’s maritime sector is clear, with experts stressing that addressing these challenges is essential for securing the country’s maritime future and enhancing the welfare of its seafarers.