Joyce Mmereole Okoli
Maritime experts and key stakeholders have raised alarm over the escalating dangers posed by marine debris, urging the Nigerian government to establish a more robust national policy framework to tackle the menace threatening the nation’s marine environment and coastal economy.
The call was made at the 2025 annual summit of the Shipping Correspondents Association of Nigeria (SCAN), held in Lagos under the theme “Marine Debris: The Danger Ahead.”
Participants warned that the unchecked accumulation of waste in Nigerian waters impairs navigational safety, disrupts port operations, and harms marine biodiversity, while undermining tourism, coastal livelihoods, and public health.
Speaking at the summit, Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Abubakar Dantsoho, represented by Capt. Femi Oyewole, emphasized that marine debris is no longer a distant concern.
“These dangers are present and growing,” he said, highlighting the threats to marine life through entanglement and ingestion.
Dantsoho noted that the NPA has taken several proactive steps to mitigate marine litter, including operating port reception facilities across all major ports to ensure compliance with the MARPOL 73/78 Convention.
“These facilities discourage illegal dumping by offering safe and environmentally-sound waste disposal options for ships,” he added. The NPA also conducts regular cleanup exercises in port areas to safeguard navigation and protect marine ecosystems.
The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), represented by Adeshina Sarumi, stressed the need to maintain clear water channels for inland navigation, noting that debris-clogged waterways hamper maritime transportation and economic activities. NSC chief, Pius Akutah, also called on the media to provide accurate, data-driven reporting to support effective policy enforcement.
Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Bolaji Oyebamiji, represented by Mrs. Aisha Eri, noted that marine debris is a global concern requiring local action. He urged coastal communities to desist from polluting water bodies and emphasized NIWA’s ongoing efforts through a national marine litter action plan that involves collaborative stakeholder engagement.
Guest speaker Captain Tajudeen Alao of the Nigerian Association of Master Mariners lamented that once-promising tourist sites have been overwhelmed by marine waste.
He warned that the growing pollution problem could erode Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global maritime sector. His representative, Captain Olugunwa Jide, advocated for legislative action, including fines of up to N5 million for violators.
President of SCAN, Mr. Bayo Ebosele, concluded the summit by emphasizing the imperative of confronting marine debris as a multifaceted national challenge.
“The proliferation of marine waste is not merely an environmental concern, but a substantial threat to the economic and social sustainability of our maritime sector and coastal communities,” he stated.
He noted that the summit served as a platform to facilitate national dialogue and foster collective strategies to address the issue.
