Harboursandport.com: Lagos, Nigeria - June 25, 2026: The President -General of the Maritime Workers' Union of Nigeria, MWUN, Francis Bunu Abi as part of the celebration of this year's "Day Of The Seafarers", has called for better welfare for seafarers.
This is even as the Deputy President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Adewale Adeyunju, stressed the need for the payment of aged seafarers years after a verification exercise carried out by the government.
The theme for the year 2026, "Carrying World Trade. Carrying The Risks" identifies with the heightened geopolitical tensions, including the evolving situation in the Strait of Hormuz, the Black Sea and, the Sea of Asov and the Red Sea region, which have caused great tension and increasing complexity; given the risks Seafarers undertake and endure everyday.
Bunu, an astute Seafarer, a Maritime Expert and Labour Activist; in this year's event thanked the Nigerian Seafarers and seafarers across the globe for their resilience, discipline, commitment and loyalty in the face of hardship and uncertainty that has engulfed international seas across the globe.
The Ijaw born labour unionist expressed his worries over the state of the Maritime Academy in Oron, where graduates are turned out yearly with no adequate certifications to compete favourably with their counterparts across the West Africa sub-region and beyond, hence, getting employment becomes cumbersome; hence, very many of them are roaming all over the place without job. A situation which calls for a very serious concern.
The MWUN boss also noted with dismay the non availability of national carriers just like back in the days when Nigeria had the defunct Nigeria National Shipping Line, NNSL, which was the pride of Nigerian Seafarers.
Before now, various governments have come and gone, the situation of the country's shipping line had remained the same; and it is not a good development for a country like Nigeria considering our Maritime potential.
Bunu, however, called on the federal government and the minister of marine and blue economy to use his good office to bring back the good of the past days, where Nigerian Seafarers had indigenous shipping lines hoisted with Nigeria's flag, NNSL, which was no doubt the pride of the Nigerian Seafarers and the country.
He also thanked the practitioners of the Maritime Industry, saying that they have contributed immensely to the development of the sector in recent times and have also partnered sincerely with the MWUN, while wishing the country a happy day of the Seafarers 2026 believing also that the country Maritime sector will take its rightful position in the comity of nations across the world.
Similarly, the Deputy President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, Adewale Adeyanju called for the payment of aged seafarers.
Recognizing the day as a date set aside annually for the celebration of Seafarers every June 25, the former President - General of the MWUN says this year's Day of Seafarers was a turbulent one, given the crisis in the middle east and the west, resulting to the closure of Strait of Hormuz.
This year, the International Maritime Organization, IMO highlighted the challenges faced by Mariners, who navigated through regions affected by international conflicts and insecurity, which of course wasn't convenient for Seafaring.
This day of the Seafarers is globally observed each year on the 25 of June; it's an annual Seafarers ritual, which of course is to celebrate Seafarers in Nigeria and across the world. It gives the opportunity to celebrate and recognize the essential roles of Seafarers in global trade and and risks Seafarers bear in sustaining their profession.
The International Transport Workers' Federation, ITF President, Adeyanju condemned the continued delay of the Aged Seafarers Retirees pensions and backlog of remuneration; long after a concluded verification exercise was concluded.
The ITF boss further said that most of the Aged Seafarers had since passed on, some have been seriously sick without proper medication, while majority are incapacitated.
He is appealing to the federal government of Nigeria to please give honour to whom it's due as there's much the government can do to alleviate the sufferings of these retirees, whose live have become miserable as a result of abject poverty.
He also thanked the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy for his foresight in the development of the Maritime sector, especially in the transformation of the nation's seaports; using the Seafarers Day as a platform in appealing to the quintessential Minister to see to the return of "On Board Gangway Men" in the vessels as this will definitely put a stop to pilfering in vessels and would help to check economic sabotage in vessels too. He also advocated that the Onboard Gangway Men are the "eagle eyes" on board berthed vessels at the Qay Aprons of the Seaports.
He congratulated Nigerian Seafarers and also made case for the Nigerian Maritime Academy, Oron, which he described as a vehicle without engine. Each year Marine graduates are turned out with no proper certification and no vessels to board. He also tasks NIMASA in this regard to make sure that graduates from Oron are properly certificated for their usefulness to the sector.
Adeyanju charged all Maritime employers and practitioners to keep the flag flying irrespective of the challenges they are facing so far, saying that the sky is the limit for all of them.
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