MWUN warns: Rising port thefts threaten maritime business confidence

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has warned that increasing incidents of theft at Nigerian seaports are eroding confidence in the country’s maritime business environment and exposing critical security gaps along port facilities.

The union raised the alarm following a recent security breach aboard the vessel MV ZY JU HE, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday while the ship was berthed at EKO Support in Lagos.

According to information made available to MWUN, unidentified intruders gained access to the vessel around 4:00 a.m. and removed five tins of paint from the aft store as well as a mobile phone belonging to a crew member.

In an e- signed release by Comrade John Kennedy Ikemefuna, Head of Media, MWUN, preliminary observations indicated that the suspects did not board the vessel with the aid of a ladder, while poor lighting around the storage area reportedly created low visibility that may have aided the operation.

Crew members were said to have raised an alarm immediately, but their calls and whistle blasts failed to attract swift intervention. When the vessel’s alarm system was eventually activated, the stolen items were reportedly dumped into the sea as the suspects fled the scene in a speedboat.

Reacting to the development, MWUN President-General Francis Bunu Abi described the situation as unacceptable, stressing that security around quay aprons has become increasingly porous.

He noted that repeated breaches now make it easier for criminals to access berthed vessels and cart away crew belongings and essential maintenance materials, creating safety risks and undermining operational confidence within the maritime sector.

Abi called on security agencies operating within port environments to strengthen surveillance and protection of port infrastructure, vessels and personnel.

He specifically urged the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian Navy to intensify patrols and improve waterside monitoring to prevent further incidents.

The union warned that unless urgent corrective measures are taken, Nigeria’s seaports risk being perceived as unsafe for maritime commerce — a development that could deter shipping activities and weaken the sector’s contribution to the national economy.

MWUN reaffirmed its readiness to collaborate with relevant authorities to ensure safer port operations and sustain investor and stakeholder confidence in Nigeria’s maritime industry.