A former Director of Shipping Development and Cabotage, Boniface Igwe, has warned that the continued dominance of foreign operators in Nigeria’s territorial waters could pose a serious threat to the country’s national security and maritime sovereignty.
Igwe made the warning in his forthcoming book, Cabotage Law and Practice, where he argued that allowing foreign interests to dominate coastal shipping could undermine both the economic interests and security of Nigeria.
He stressed that reserving coastal shipping activities for indigenous operators was not only an economic policy but also a measure with important national security implications.
According to him, countries around the world often create protected markets for local businesses in strategic sectors to help them build capacity and compete internationally.
He explained that such policies are driven by economic, political and security considerations, particularly in critical industries such as maritime transportation.
Igwe noted that Nigeria’s maritime sector plays a crucial role in the national economy because of its strong connection to the oil and gas industry, which remains a major component of the country’s economic activities.
He cited statistics showing that Nigeria records an average annual cargo traffic of 152 million metric tonnes, generating approximately $5 billion in freight earnings.
However, he said foreign-controlled businesses currently account for nearly 90 percent of these earnings, raising concerns about the extent of foreign dominance in the country’s coastal shipping industry.
Igwe therefore stressed the need for Nigeria to strengthen indigenous participation in the maritime sector, arguing that greater local control would not only retain more economic benefits within the country but also help safeguard its maritime interests and national security.
