Why ships avoid Niger Delta ports — Shippers’ Council

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has highlighted safety concerns and insecurity along the nation’s waterways as key factors hindering ships from docking in the Niger Delta region.

To address this issue, the NSC has called for enhanced security patrols on the waterways, particularly in the Niger Delta, to restore confidence and ensure the safe passage of ships to ports in the area.

Pius Ukeyima, the Executive Secretary of NSC, made these remarks during the 2024 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR) event held in Port Harcourt, themed “The Role of Education in Protecting and Empowering Youths for a Disaster-Free Future.”

Represented by NSC’s Director of Consumer Affairs, Glory Onojedo, Ukeyima noted that while piracy attacks in the region have decreased, increased security measures are still necessary to encourage shipping companies to return.

In his lecture titled “Building a Disaster-Free Maritime in the Niger Delta: Role of Stakeholders,” Ukeyima emphasised the need for collaboration among security agencies, maritime stakeholders, government bodies, and local communities.

He stated, “To mitigate this challenge, relevant government agencies must prioritize security measures such as increased patrols, surveillance technology, and collaboration with local authorities to combat piracy and ensure the safety of maritime activities.”

He further pointed out that the maritime sector in the Niger Delta continues to suffer from inadequate infrastructure, including dilapidated ports, terminals, and navigation aids, alongside issues of underfunding and corruption.

Ukeyima urged the government to implement security and infrastructure development measures on a short-, medium-, and long-term basis to revitalise shipping activities in the region.

Onofiok Luke, a former member of the National Assembly, also spoke at the event, expressing concerns over the reactionary approach to disasters.

He stressed the need for greater political will and improved budgetary allocations for disaster risk management in the 2025 budget, particularly for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). Luke called for more funding to equip NEMA with modern technology and training to enhance their capacity in managing risks and emergencies.

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