The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has called for a stronger national policy framework to combat the rising menace of marine debris in Nigerian waters, warning that the growing pollution threatens biodiversity, port efficiency, tourism, and the livelihoods of coastal communities.
Speaking at the 2025 Summit of the Shipping Correspondents Association of Nigeria (SCAN) held in Lagos on Thursday, the NPA and other top maritime agencies emphasized the urgent need for coordinated action to address the environmental and operational impact of marine waste.
Delivering a keynote address on behalf of Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, the Managing Director of NPA, the Principal Manager of Marine Operations, Femi Oyewole, described marine debris as a mounting threat to Nigeria’s maritime ecosystem and coastal economy.
“Marine litter is no longer a distant environmental concern — it is a growing crisis that disrupts port operations, endangers marine life, and undermines tourism and community health,” Dantsoho warned.
Dantsoho said the NPA has adopted a proactive stance by ensuring full compliance with the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL 73/78) — specifically Annex V, which deals with the prevention of pollution by garbage from ships.
He explained that the NPA operates port reception facilities across Nigeria’s four pilotage districts: Lagos, Delta, Bonny/Port Harcourt, and Calabar, offering secure and environmentally sound waste disposal for all ships calling at the ports.
“These facilities are equipped to handle a wide array of ship-generated waste, including plastics, oily rags, food waste, hazardous residues, sludges, and bilge water,” he stated. “By doing so, we remove the incentive for illegal dumping and ensure compliance with global environmental standards.”
In addition, the NPA carries out routine marine litter and seaweed cleanups around port channels and quay aprons to protect navigation safety, minimize blockages in drainage systems, and preserve aquatic biodiversity.
The summit featured prominent voices from across the maritime sector. Dr. Pius Akutah, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), represented by Adeshina Sarumi, emphasized the need to clear waterways of waste and wrecks to allow seamless inland navigation.
“Channels littered with debris and shipwrecks not only impede vessel movement but also harm the economic viability of inland water transport,” he stated.
The Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Bolaji Oyebamiji, represented by Mrs. Aisha Eri, said that marine debris is a global issue but called for increased public sensitization, especially among coastal residents, to reduce direct pollution of inland and coastal waters.
“There is an existing marine litter action plan involving all stakeholders, but without grassroots cooperation, the implementation cannot succeed,” she warned.
Highlighting the environmental implications, Captain Tajudeen Alao, President of the Nigerian Association of Master Mariners, said that some strategic locations along Nigeria’s coastlines — once considered potential tourist hotspots — have now become clogged with floating debris and solid waste.
Alao called for stricter enforcement of environmental regulations and increased investment in eco-friendly waste management solutions within and around ports and fishing communities.
The growing consensus among maritime experts is that Nigeria needs a robust national marine debris policy that aligns with international standards and empowers regulators to act swiftly. Such a policy would integrate waste reception, recycling, enforcement, and awareness into a unified strategy.
Environmentalists have also urged the Federal Ministry of Environment and the National Assembly to prioritize the issue in the ongoing review of the National Maritime Policy Framework.
With Nigeria’s seaports playing a crucial role in West Africa’s trade logistics, stakeholders warn that ignoring the marine litter crisis could compromise port competitiveness, ecosystem health, and long-term economic resilience.