Unchecked accumulation of marine debris threatening Nigeria's maritime competitiveness — Stakeholders
The stakeholders, who made this call in Lagos during the 2025 annual summit of the Shipping Correspondents Association of Nigeria (SCAN), stated that marine debris impairs navigational safety, disrupts port operations, and pollutes coastlines—undermining tourism, coastal livelihoods, and community health, among other concerns.
Speaking at the summit, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Abubakar Dantsoho, said marine debris threatens biodiversity, including fish, marine mammals, and seabirds, often leading to entanglement and ingestion.
Dantsoho, who was represented by Capt. Femi Oyewole, Principal Manager, Marine, NPA, noted that as custodians of Nigeria's seaports, the NPA is deeply committed to advancing national and global efforts to combat marine litter and preserve the integrity of the marine ecosystem.
He emphasized that the dangers are no longer distant possibilities, but present and escalating, hence the need for urgent action.
According to him, 'The NPA has taken several proactive measures to confront the menace head-on. It operates and regulates port reception facilities at all major ports in Nigeria, ensuring full compliance with the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL 73/78), particularly Annex V, which addresses garbage disposal from ships calling at the Authority's four pilotage districts: Lagos, Delta, Bonny/Port Harcourt, and Calabar.'
'These facilities provide secure, environmentally sound reception and handling of waste from vessels calling at Nigerian ports. They are equipped to receive a wide range of ship-generated waste, including plastics, food waste, domestic garbage, oily rags, and hazardous residues, as well as daily sludges and bilges. By doing so, we eliminate the incentive for illegal disposal into the marine environment and ensure all waste is treated, recycled, or disposed of in accordance with national and international environmental standards.'
He added that the NPA also regularly undertakes dedicated marine litter and seaweed cleanup exercises within and around port channels, berths, and quay aprons.
'By removing plastics, packaging materials, vegetation waste, and other solid litter, we are able to protect marine life, reduce blockages in port drainage systems, and ensure the smooth operation of vessels in port environments and navigational channels,' he stated.
ALSO READ: Tinubu International Conference Centre fully booked until 2027 — Wike
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers' Council (NSC), Dr. Pius Akutah, applauded SCAN for choosing such a critical topic and emphasized the need to prioritize the clearance of water channels to ensure the free movement of vessels on inland waterways.
Akutah, who was represented by the NSC Deputy Director of Monitoring and Enforcement, Adeshina Sarumi, stated that having water channels littered with debris or shipwrecks poses a significant challenge to Nigeria's water transportation system.
He urged the media to verify reports and present them accurately, with facts and figures, in order to aid the effective operation of relevant agencies.
In his address, the Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, called on stakeholders to show greater commitment to tackling marine debris and stressed the need for increased public awareness, especially among residents of coastal communities.
Oyebamiji, who was represented by an Assistant General Manager at NIWA, Mrs. Aisha Eri, noted that marine waste is a global issue, not just a Nigerian one. He stated that a marine litter action plan is already in place, involving shared responsibilities among all stakeholders.
He emphasized that while NIWA and other agencies are making efforts, residents of coastal areas must also desist from polluting the waterways.
The Guest Speaker and President of the Nigerian Association of Master Mariners, Captain Tajudeen Alao, expressed concern that some strategic areas, which should serve as tourist centers, have been overtaken by debris.
He warned that the unchecked accumulation of marine debris continues to threaten Nigeria's competitiveness in the maritime sector.
Represented by the Second Vice President of the Association, Captain Olugunwa Jide, Alao called for the establishment of a legislative framework backed by the National Assembly and proposed a fine of ₦5 million for illegal waste disposal.
Speaking on the theme of the event, 'Marine Debris: The Danger Ahead,' SCAN President Moses Ebosele emphasized the urgent need to address the crisis of marine debris and its threat to the maritime industry, marine ecosystems, and coastal communities.
He said the summit aimed to facilitate national dialogue, share knowledge, and build collaborative strategies to combat marine debris and other forms of marine pollution.
'The growing prevalence of marine debris is not just an environmental issue; it is a socioeconomic threat that can undermine the very foundations of our maritime industry and coastal communities,' Ebosele said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
17-07-2025
- Zawya
How businesses incur losses due to prevalence of marine debris?
It is not unusual to see debris floating along the nation's inland waterways, impacting marine life, habitats, and human activities through hazards to navigational safety and others. In this report, TOLA ADENUBI looks at how businesses suffer due to marine debris prevalence. Marine debris refers to human-caused waste that has deliberately or inadvertently entered the marine environment. It includes plastics, fishing gear, packaging materials, glass, metals, electronic waste, and even derelict vessels. In Nigerian waterways, from Lagos Lagoon to the Bonny Channel, the Escravos River to Onitsha River Ports, this debris is growing not just in volume, but in complexity and consequence, checks by the Nigerian Tribune revealed. Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune on the impact of marine debris to seafaring, President of the Nigerian Association of Master Mariners (NAMM), Captain Tajudeen Alao, stated that navigational hazards, equipment damage, loss of time and earnings and threat to small crafts are just few of the issues that marine debris pose to seafaring. According to the NAMM President, 'Sometimes, large plastics, abandoned fishing nets routinely entangled the vessels propellers, rudders, and thrusters. Vessels have had to execute emergency stops midstream due to debris sightings, thus jeopardizing safety, cargo, and schedules. 'Equipment Damage: During marine engine cooling operations using the medium it floats on, water, marine debris are pull-into the strainers by suction, impellers, ballast pumps, or air-conditioning intakes; and the result is overheating, mechanical failure, or total system shutdown. 'For ferry and fishing boat operators, especially those with outboard engines, plastic bags, ropes wrapped around propeller shafts often mean ruined gearboxes and costly repairs. 'Loss of Time and Earnings: Each stoppage for cleaning strainers, untangling ropes, or making emergency dry-docking for fouling costs valuable man-hours. For operators paid by voyage or charter time, marine debris translates directly to loss of income. A recent Lagos Inland Waterways report logged over 380 ferry delays caused by propeller entanglements in 2024 alone. 'Threat to Small Craft and Local Transport: Speedboats, wooden canoes, sports crafts, and water taxis in coastal towns suffer disproportionately. Large floating debris as submerged logs which are barely visible in tidal waters have been known to cause capsizing, hull puncture, and loss of control which have led to unnecessary loss of lives on our waterways. These are not hypothetical risks, they are daily realities in places like Epe, Badagry, Yenagoa, and Calabar.' Effect on fishing Aside affecting the seafaring business, fishermen are not left out of the menace that marine debris can unleash. Also speaking on the impact on fishing, the Second Vice President of NAMM, Captain Olajide Olugunwa ,stated that marine debris lead to reduced catch for fishermen. In the words of Captain Olajide Olugunwa, 'In Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Bayelsa, fishermen report increasing instances of reduced catch, fish with plastic content in their stomachs, or fish exhibiting deformities and toxic odor. This undermines marketability, compromises protein sources, and collapses rural incomes. 'Scientific studies in Nigerian coastal states now confirm the presence of microplastics in commercially consumed fish and shellfish. This presents a long-term public health hazard through biomagnification, potentially linked to hormonal disruptions, gastrointestinal diseases, and cancer. 'From torn nets caught on submerged scrap metal to destroyed traps and blocked fish channels, artisanal fishers are losing hundreds of millions of naira annually. Larger industrial trawlers incur greater dry-docking frequency and fuel costs to avoid debris-heavy zones. 'Also, Sea turtles, dolphins, manatees, and juvenile fishes are often found entangled in ghost fishing nets or suffocated by ingestion of plastic. These events are not rare; they are now endemic. What was once an ecological concern has become a commercial catastrophe.' ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE: Nigeria's inflation rate eases to 22.22% — NBS Tourism implication The NAMM President further revealed that marine debris cause major degradation to the nation's coastline, leading to losses in the tourism space. 'Marine debris wash up on Nigeria's beaches, from Tarkwa Bay to Oguta Lake, turning tourist zones into unsightly dumps. Once-pristine resort areas now host plastic-laden coastlines, eroding our tourism potential, property value, and coastal livelihoods. 'Aside effect on tourism, it also comes with health implications for Nigerians. Decomposing garbage in water harbors bacteria, releases methane and leachate, and creates breeding grounds for vectors, leading to cholera outbreaks, skin infections, and respiratory illness among riverside communities. 'Foreign shipping lines now raise operational concerns when approaching Nigerian ports. Images of floating debris near Apapa Anchorage, warped quay aprons, or clogged port approaches discourage long-term investment and lower our competitiveness in West Africa's maritime corridor. 'We risk handing our children a coastline littered with synthetic waste, poisoned waters, and lifeless estuaries. Without systemic change, marine debris may become one of Nigeria's most challenging environmental legacies. This is an urgent call for action,' Captain Tajudeen Alao warned. Way forward With marine debris threatening to take over Nigeria's maritime space, the following solutions via a multi-tiered approach is urgently recommended. National Marine Debris Act: Establishment of a legislative framework backed by NASS for marine debris regulation, clearly defining categories of debris, offenses, penalties, and institutional responsibilities. Mandatory Debris Management Plans: Make it compulsory for Shipping lines, Terminals, and Offshore Platforms to file and implement Marine Debris Mitigation Plans, like the oil spill response protocols. Integrated Coastal Waste Governance: Empower a joint taskforce of NIMASA, NIWA, NESREA, and state environmental agencies to monitor, enforce, and coordinate coastal cleanup operations. Enforcement/Sanctions: Impoundment and fines (minimum of ₦5 million) for any operator caught disposing off waste into water bodies. Community Waste-to-Wealth Incentives: Encourage local recovery and recycling initiatives through grants, maritime youth engagement, and training programs. Surveillance Technology Investment: Deploy satellite-based marine surveillance, drone sweeps, and radar-augmented buoys to detect and monitor debris zones in real time. Public enlightenment: Build a coalition of schools, churches, mosques, market associations and transport unions around a unified message: 'Protect Our Waters. Preserve Our Future.' Also, part of the public enlightenment effort should include integration of ocean literacy and anti-littering education into primary and secondary curricula across coastal states. Private Sector Responsibility: Food and beverage multinationals must be accountable for their packaging waste – via Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) mechanisms. Copyright © 2022 Nigerian Tribune Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
27-06-2025
- Zawya
Unchecked accumulation of marine debris threatening Nigeria's maritime competitiveness — Stakeholders
Stakeholders in the maritime sector on Thursday called for a strengthened national policy framework to tackle marine debris, warning that unchecked accumulation is threatening Nigeria's maritime competitiveness and endangering the future of its waterways. The stakeholders, who made this call in Lagos during the 2025 annual summit of the Shipping Correspondents Association of Nigeria (SCAN), stated that marine debris impairs navigational safety, disrupts port operations, and pollutes coastlines—undermining tourism, coastal livelihoods, and community health, among other concerns. Speaking at the summit, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Abubakar Dantsoho, said marine debris threatens biodiversity, including fish, marine mammals, and seabirds, often leading to entanglement and ingestion. Dantsoho, who was represented by Capt. Femi Oyewole, Principal Manager, Marine, NPA, noted that as custodians of Nigeria's seaports, the NPA is deeply committed to advancing national and global efforts to combat marine litter and preserve the integrity of the marine ecosystem. He emphasized that the dangers are no longer distant possibilities, but present and escalating, hence the need for urgent action. According to him, 'The NPA has taken several proactive measures to confront the menace head-on. It operates and regulates port reception facilities at all major ports in Nigeria, ensuring full compliance with the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL 73/78), particularly Annex V, which addresses garbage disposal from ships calling at the Authority's four pilotage districts: Lagos, Delta, Bonny/Port Harcourt, and Calabar.' 'These facilities provide secure, environmentally sound reception and handling of waste from vessels calling at Nigerian ports. They are equipped to receive a wide range of ship-generated waste, including plastics, food waste, domestic garbage, oily rags, and hazardous residues, as well as daily sludges and bilges. By doing so, we eliminate the incentive for illegal disposal into the marine environment and ensure all waste is treated, recycled, or disposed of in accordance with national and international environmental standards.' He added that the NPA also regularly undertakes dedicated marine litter and seaweed cleanup exercises within and around port channels, berths, and quay aprons. 'By removing plastics, packaging materials, vegetation waste, and other solid litter, we are able to protect marine life, reduce blockages in port drainage systems, and ensure the smooth operation of vessels in port environments and navigational channels,' he stated. ALSO READ: Tinubu International Conference Centre fully booked until 2027 — Wike Also speaking, the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers' Council (NSC), Dr. Pius Akutah, applauded SCAN for choosing such a critical topic and emphasized the need to prioritize the clearance of water channels to ensure the free movement of vessels on inland waterways. Akutah, who was represented by the NSC Deputy Director of Monitoring and Enforcement, Adeshina Sarumi, stated that having water channels littered with debris or shipwrecks poses a significant challenge to Nigeria's water transportation system. He urged the media to verify reports and present them accurately, with facts and figures, in order to aid the effective operation of relevant agencies. In his address, the Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, called on stakeholders to show greater commitment to tackling marine debris and stressed the need for increased public awareness, especially among residents of coastal communities. Oyebamiji, who was represented by an Assistant General Manager at NIWA, Mrs. Aisha Eri, noted that marine waste is a global issue, not just a Nigerian one. He stated that a marine litter action plan is already in place, involving shared responsibilities among all stakeholders. He emphasized that while NIWA and other agencies are making efforts, residents of coastal areas must also desist from polluting the waterways. The Guest Speaker and President of the Nigerian Association of Master Mariners, Captain Tajudeen Alao, expressed concern that some strategic areas, which should serve as tourist centers, have been overtaken by debris. He warned that the unchecked accumulation of marine debris continues to threaten Nigeria's competitiveness in the maritime sector. Represented by the Second Vice President of the Association, Captain Olugunwa Jide, Alao called for the establishment of a legislative framework backed by the National Assembly and proposed a fine of ₦5 million for illegal waste disposal. Speaking on the theme of the event, 'Marine Debris: The Danger Ahead,' SCAN President Moses Ebosele emphasized the urgent need to address the crisis of marine debris and its threat to the maritime industry, marine ecosystems, and coastal communities. He said the summit aimed to facilitate national dialogue, share knowledge, and build collaborative strategies to combat marine debris and other forms of marine pollution. 'The growing prevalence of marine debris is not just an environmental issue; it is a socioeconomic threat that can undermine the very foundations of our maritime industry and coastal communities,' Ebosele said.
Zawya
06-06-2025
- Zawya
Nigeria: Children among 1,500 people displaced as town submerged in devastating floods
Difficulties reaching communities impacted by devastating flooding in Mokwa in north-central Nigeria is hampering relief efforts, said Save the Children which is preparing to respond to the disaster. Over 1,500 people have been displaced from their homes, scores of people are dead, and nearly 100 people are reported missing since torrential rains and the collapse of a dam last week led to the worst flooding to hit the area in 60 years. Houses, roads and farmland have been completely submerged in water and mud, with the floodwaters destroying vital aid routes, including two bridges, making it hard to reach Mokwa which is about 230 miles (370km) west of Nigeria's capital, Abuja. Duncan Harvey, Save the Children's Country Director in Nigeria, said: 'The reports coming out of Mokwa are nothing short of devastating. Large parts of the bustling town have been reduced to mud and rubble, and many families have lost everything. Tragically, it is also a situation of deep mourning, as dozens of people including many children remain missing. 'Reaching communities in Mokwa is also challenging due to the devastation the floods have wreaked, cutting off transport links, which makes children separated from their families even more vulnerable. 'The needs are huge and children and families in Mokwa desperately need donors and the government to urgently ramp up support in the form of a coordinated response that meets the needs of children and families who have lost everything.' Nigeria is no stranger to flood crises, with major floods devastating 30 of Nigeria's 36 states in September last year, killing hundreds and forcing some 640,000 people from their homes. Save the Children has been working in Nigeria since 2001 and has been responding to the humanitarian crisis in the northeast since 2014. Save the Children is providing food, clean water, nutrition and protection services and education to families across Nigeria. Save the Children also provides technical support to the government on policy changes and reforms, especially in critical sectors such as health, education, and social protection – and Anticipatory Action for crisis prevention. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Save the Children.
