Oil Bunkering: Vessel Owners Demand Stricter Verification for Ships Operating in Nigerian Waters
Oil Bunkering: Vessel Owners Demand Stricter Verification for Ships Operating in Nigerian Waters
Stakeholders in Nigeria’s maritime sector have called for stricter verification and regulatory oversight of vessels operating in the country’s territorial waters as part of efforts to curb illegal oil bunkering and other maritime crimes.
The call was made by vessel owners, who argued that strengthening the verification process for ships entering and operating within Nigerian waterways would help eliminate unauthorized vessels, improve accountability, and enhance national security.
According to the stakeholders, illegal oil bunkering continues to pose a major threat to Nigeria’s economy, resulting in significant revenue losses, environmental degradation, and increased insecurity in coastal communities. They maintained that effective identification and monitoring of vessels are critical to tackling the growing challenge.
The group urged relevant government agencies, including the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), and other maritime regulators, to adopt a comprehensive verification system that ensures only duly registered and compliant vessels operate within the country’s waterways.
They also advocated stronger enforcement of existing maritime regulations, improved inter-agency collaboration, and the deployment of advanced surveillance technology to detect suspicious vessel movements and prevent illegal activities at sea.
Industry operators stressed that sanitising Nigeria’s waterways would not only reduce crude oil theft and illegal bunkering but also enhance investor confidence, improve maritime safety, and strengthen the nation’s blue economy.
The stakeholders expressed confidence that stricter compliance measures and effective regulation would contribute significantly to protecting Nigeria’s maritime assets while promoting transparency and sustainable growth in the shipping industry.
