Maritime
MWUN Decries Employer Negligence On Seaferers
The leadership of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) says has condemned the negligence of employers of seaferers saying it will no longer tolerate it.
MWUN in a statement by its President-General, Comrade Francis Bunu, and signed by Head of Media, Mr. John Kennedy Ikemefuna, said this during a routine tour of a facility of Melsmore Marine Nig. Ltd., at Ibeju Lekki.
Bunu said the tour was to sensitise seafarers employed by Melsmore about their forthcoming unionisation into MWUN.
He said it had been agreed that seafarers in Melsmore should be unionised in conformity with maritime standard of operations in Nigeria and globally.
“It has been observed that most seafarers in the country are poorly catered for on board vessels, and poorly remunerated”, Buni said.
According to the President General, some seafarers were being made to work under hazardous conditions with little or no safety and health facility on board.
He said the situation jeopardises the health of the seafarers with communicable diseases, which have claimed the lives of sailors and crews while on sea.
“Such absolute negligence on seafarers within the maritime space in Nigeria by employers of labour in the maritime industry will no longer be tolerated in any ramification.
“This period is a new order in the maritime Industry, and every employer of labour must comply with all global safety standards on board vessels.
“Any employer found wanting henceforth, in this regard, will be appropriately dealt with, according to Maritime Labour Rules and Regulations”, he said.
He continued that unionization of the workers would produce a work guidelines and welfare package book.
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The Management of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has called on riverine communities in Niger State to adhere strictly to waterways regulations to enhance safety on waterways
The authority also said such adherece would prevent boat mishaps and ensure safety of lives and property
NIWA’s Area Manager in Niger and Kwara states, Mr. Akapo Adeboye, made this call during a sensitisation campaign at Zumba market in Shiroro Local Government Area, Niger State.
Adeboye explained that the campaign was organised for boat operators and passengers in anticipation of rising water levels due to predicted heavy rainfall forecast by Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).
He said the sensitisation is aimed at enhancing safety on Nigerian’s waterways, protect lives and livelihoods of Nigerians who rely on inland waterways for transportation.
Adeboye added that the initiative aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the lives of Nigerians.
“The reason behind organising the 2025 sensitisation campaigns on safety of lives and property on inland waterways regulations is to ensure compliance and reduce accidents.
“We urge everyone to take safety seriously and comply with the regulations to avoid accidents occasioned by boat mishaps”, he said.
He attributed the significant reduction in water mishaps in Niger over the past year to sustained sensitisation and enforcement of water transport regulatory measures across all water fronts in the state.
He appealed to residents to adhere to safety measures and regulations to reduce boat accidents, adding that the agency would not tolerate disregard for water transport regulations, especially the use of life jackets.
Adeboye commended the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, and the Managing Director of NIWA, Bola Oyebamij, for their commitment to ensuring safety on inland waterways.
Chairman of the Boat Owners and Freshwater Users Association in Shiroro, Alhaji Aliyu Yerima, described the sensitisation campaign and donation of life jackets to operators as timely.
He noted that it would safeguard the lives and properties of rural farmers and enhance waterway safety.
The 2025 campaign is tagged “Safety and Safety Trip: Zero Tolerance to Boat Mishap, No Life Jacket, No Boarding”.
Highlight of the sensiststaion was inauguration of waterways marshals at the Zumba waterfront to enforce water transport regulatory measures.
The Federal Government has said it would phase out substandard and unsafe boats and replace them with modern vessels for safety.
The government also said the replacement vessels would ensure safety of lives and property in the waterways
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, disclosed this while receiving the report of the Special Committee on the Prevention of Boat Mishaps in Nigeria,
“The safety of our citizens on water is not just a policy responsibility, it is a moral duty. Every life lost in a boat mishap is one too many. This report will guide both immediate and long-term interventions”, Oyetola stated.
The Minister said the aim is to meet established safety standards in the waterways.
He emphasized the compulsory use of life jackets, described as non-negotiable for all water transport users.
The Minister called for collaboration with state governments and sub-national authorities, noting that addressing the challenge of boat accidents requires collective effort beyond the federal level.
Oyetola further disclosed that a nationwide distribution of life jackets had been approved for riverine and coastal communities.
The 16-member Special Committee, which was inaugurated on February 27, 2025, was tasked with conducting a comprehensive assessment of commercial boat operations across the country.
The committee’s mandate included identifying root causes of accidents and proposing sustainable safety measures.
Presenting the report, Chairman of the Committee and Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Bola Oyebamiji, said the committee’s work was extended beyond the initial six-week timeline to ensure a detailed and credible outcome.
Oyebamiji explained that the report, presented in six chapters, covers an evaluation of operational practices, regulatory gaps, vessel design issues, and institutional capacity.
Oyebamiji expressed appreciation to the Minister for his support and to committee members for their contributions.
“This report reflects our collective effort to improve safety and oversight across Nigeria’s waterways. We believe the findings will serve as a strategic guide for enduring reforms”, he said.
The Committee is composed of experts in maritime safety, engineering, law, academia, and public policy.
Members include Dr. Dayo Moberuola, Prof. S. Abiodun, Dr. Babatunde Olaosebikan, Prof. Busayo Fakinlede, Hadiza Idris Kuta, Engr. Yahaya Farouk, Attahiru Maccido, and Denis Tar Iyaghigba.
Others are Gani Tarzan Balogun, Capt. Stan Chucka Igwe, Raiph Onoshakpor, Prof. Ibiba Douglas, Richard Ntan, Babatope Fajemirokun, and Ofie Adams.
Experts have said suicide cases accounted for more deaths at sea than fatal injury incidents, according to a major new survey, which looked at the fleet insured by Norway’s Gard.
Gard’s second crew claims report, published last week, outlines trends and developments in seafarer injuries, illnesses and fatalities worldwide drawing on claims data from 3,000 cases last year and insights from over 6,000 seafarers with the suicide data grabbing headlines.
“This underscores the importance of having a stronger focus on mental health and wellbeing at sea.
“While some stressors can be handled by seafarers themselves, many factors are controlled or influenced by companies and authorities”, said Lene-Camilla Nordlie, head of people claims at Gard.
Most suicide cases involved officers, both senior and junior. In 75% of the cases, the seafarers were below the age of 41 – a younger profile than other deaths onboard.
Most deaths from suicide resulted from hanging or drowning. In most cases, death by suicide was excluded from contractual compensation.
This alarming statistic, where self-inflicted deaths surpass those from occupational accidents, echoes a finding from the International Labour Organization (ILO) which, in its 2023 data based on information from 51 countries, reported 26 suicide cases (6.5% of total deaths) among seafarers, with a further 91 cases of person overboard incidents where the cause remains undetermined but may include suicides.
For years, mental health issues among seafarers have been described as a silent epidemic, largely due to the unique challenges of the profession and a pervasive culture of underreporting.
Experts like Steven Jones, founder of the Seafarers Happiness Index, have long suggested that actual suicide figures are likely much higher than official statistics.
Historically, the absence of a single, agreed international framework for recording suicides at sea has contributed to this opacity.
Reasons for underreporting include the difficulty in definitively determining if a death at sea is suicide without eyewitnesses, and a desire to protect families emotionally and financially, as insurance payouts can be affected by suicide classifications.
There is also a deep reticence to discuss the issue within the industry, compounded by cultural sensitivities around suicide.
Multiple studies and industry reports consistently point to a confluence of factors contributing to the severe mental health strain on seafarers. Factors include prolonged isolation and separation, crew fatigue and sleep deprivation
More shipping companies and maritime charities are offering anonymous helplines with multilingual support, counselling services, and online platforms to improve access to mental health resources.
By: Chinedu Wosu
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