Maritime
Expert Advises Ship Owners, Maritime Institutes On Training
The Rector, Certified Institute of Shipping (CIS), Dr. Alex Okwuashi recently advised maritime training institutions to collaborate with indigenous ship owners in training their students.
Okwuashi told newsmen in Lagos that such collaboration would enable the students to acquire the much needed practical experience.
“Seafaring is one of the components of shipping, however, the bane of seafarers training in Nigeria is the lack of training ships with which the students can gain the necessary sea time experience.
“It is just like training a pilot or a driver on paper, his training will not be complete without practical flying or driving experience, so also it is with seafaring.
“The seafarers must handle the equipment themselves and that experience cannot be acquired by mere word of mouth,’’ he said.
The rector said that this year, the institute would focus on the security implications in shipping. He said that the institute would insist on having security as a topic for all the corporate trainings it would undertake this year.
“We are going to insist on more awareness in security training such as cargo handling and safety of equipment such that accidents, injury and theft of cargo can be reduced, ” the CIS rector said.
Okwuashi said that in 2012, the institute trained over 1,000 students at the undergraduate and diploma levels excluding postgraduate students.
“We had short courses, seminars and workshops during the year 2012, which did not attract certification.
These were done for corporate organisations and it was in batches. “Some of the corporate organisations that sent their employees to us were Dangote, Sifax and ENL Consortium. “We had six batches of corporate training with these organizations, he said.
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The Nigerian Navy has expressed readiness to partner with relevant organisations to strengthen indigenous shipbuilding capacity and enhance naval operations.
Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, made this known in Abuja while receiving the Managing Director of ASELSAN Nigeria Limited, Amadou Thiam, during a courtesy visit to Naval Headquarters.
This was contained in a statement by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho and made available to The Tide.
The CNS said the move was in line with the Navy’s strategic objective of promoting local content development, technology transfer and sustainable capacity growth.
He described the engagement as timely and strategic, noting that Navy remained committed to collaborations that would deliver tangible benefits to Nigeria’s defence industrial base.
Abbas emphasised the importance of structured partnerships, particularly through government-to-government frameworks, to ensure transparency, efficiency and alignment with national security priorities.
Earlier, Thiam said ASELSAN was ready to establish a long-term partnership with the Nigerian Navy through joint ventures and collaboration with indigenous shipyards.
He said the company’s expertise in areas such as unmanned systems, infrared search and track systems, in addition to integrated combat solutions and the modernisation of naval platforms.
According to him, the delegation’s visit to Naval Dockyard Limited, where the construction of Seaward Defence Boats is ongoing, further demonstrated opportunities for synergy with Nigeria’s growing shipbuilding capacity.
The CNS reiterated that such partnerships would position the Nigerian Navy for enhanced maritime security operations.
By: CHINEDU WOSU
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has raised alarm over poor policing of Lagos Port waterfronts
The President General MWUN Francis Bunu said this when
members of the Shipping Correspondents Association of Nigeria (SCAN) visited the union’s headquarters ahead of the 2026 Dockworkers’ Day.
He described attacks on vessels at berth as unacceptable in a regulated port environment, stressing that such incidents undermined confidence in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
According to him, marine police are mandated to secure berthed vessels through effective patrols and surveillance across port waterfronts.
“Why will a vessel berth and people come across the water in numbers to attack it?.
“These vessels are foreign-owned. How do they want Nigeria to be viewed in the international community?” Bunu said
The President said such breaches revealed lapses in coordination among security agencies, warning that, “urgent action was needed to restore confidence.
“Somebody is certainly not doing their job. We cannot have these attacks without decisive intervention from responsible agencies,”
Bunu reacted to a recent breach at Eko Support Terminal, where unidentified assailants reportedly attacked a berthed vessel last week.
He said the incident heightened concerns among ship operators and port users about safety within Nigerian ports.
The MWUN President warned that repeated attacks at berths could discourage international shipping lines and worsen Nigeria’s maritime risk profile.
He called for stronger security presence around port berths and waterfronts, stressing that such insecurity raises broader concerns about territorial waters.
Bunu urged security agencies and port authorities to review surveillance and patrol systems to prevent further attacks and reassure global operators.
Earlier, President of SCAN,Mr Moses Ebosele, commended Bunu for protecting workers’ interests and supporting industry growth.
Ebosele said the visit was part of preparations for the 2026 Dockworkers’ Day celebration organised by the association.
He appealed for support from maritime workers to ensure the success of the event.
Ebosele said this year’s celebration would emphasise environmentally friendly practices and modern technologies in Nigerian seaports.
According to him, the theme, ‘Green Ports: Sustainable Practices for Dockworkers,’ will guide discussions among key maritime stakeholders.
He added, the initiative aimed to improve environmental performance while sustaining economic viability and maritime trade.
Ebosele said participants would also explore dockworkers’ contributions to the economy and strategies for strengthening their role in a green economy.
By: CHINEDU WOSU
The Nigerian Navy has stepped up efforts to strengthen regional maritime security with plans to establish a Combined Maritime Task Force (CMTF), positioning it as a multinational initiative to safeguard the Gulf of Guinea GOG
Navy said the collaboration would enhance global shipping safety.
The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, said this in a statement signed by Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, Director of Naval Information and made available to Newsmen
Vice Admiral Idi Abbas who received the Danish Ambassador to Nigeria, Jen Ole Bach Hansen, at Naval Headquarters, Abuja, reaffirmed Nigeria’s leadership role in driving a coordinated multinational maritime security framework in the Gulf of Guinea, a critical corridor for international trade.
Abbas stressed the region remains vital to global shipping, noting that countries like Denmark depend significantly on its sea lanes for commerce.
Vice Admiral Abbas disclosed that the proposed CMTF, expected to commence operations by mid-2026, would bring together “like-minded nations” to improve maritime domain awareness, boost joint response capabilities, and consolidate recent gains against piracy and other maritime threats in the region.
He called for robust Danish support in both the operationalisation and long-term sustainability of the initiative, describing such collaboration as crucial to maintaining security and stability within the Gulf of Guinea.
The Naval chief also extended an invitation to the Danish Navy to participate in the Nigerian Navy’s forthcoming International Fleet Review, a move aimed at strengthening interoperability and deepening naval cooperation between both countries.
Earlier Ambassador Hansen reaffirmed Denmark’s commitment to expanding its defence and maritime partnership with Nigeria under its Africa Strategy.
He noted that bilateral relations between both countries, particularly in maritime security, have witnessed significant progress since 2024.
The envoy acknowledged Nigeria’s strides in improving maritime security and expressed Denmark’s readiness to deepen collaboration in pursuit of shared security objectives in the Gulf of Guinea.
Both sides reiterated their commitment to sustained strategic cooperation, with a shared goal of ensuring a secure and stable maritime environment that supports regional and global economic activities.#
By: CHINEDU WOSU