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Maritime Tragedy: Ex-NNSL Seafarers Continue To Die Awaiting 30-Years Unpaid Benefits
Maritime Tragedy: Ex-NNSL Seafarers Continue To Die Awaiting 30-Years Unpaid Benefits
By: Raymond Gold
Date: September 24, 2025
Location: Lagos, Nigeria
Three decades after the liquidation of the Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL), a distressing pattern has emerged as former seafarers continue to die while awaiting their unpaid terminal benefits and pension entitlements from the federal government.
The maritime veterans, who dedicated their careers to Nigeria’s once-proud national carrier, are passing away in increasing numbers without receiving compensation promised to them since the shipping line’s collapse in 1995. Sources within the maritime community report that dozens of ex-NNSL workers have died in recent years, leaving their families to continue the fight for unpaid benefits.
Growing Death Toll Among Maritime Veterans
The demise of Adeyinka Awesu, a worker of the defunct Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL), in June 2022, has added to the number of deaths recorded among over 2,000 unpaid former workers of the company. Industry sources indicate that the death toll has continued to rise as aging seafarers succumb to various ailments while battling poverty and neglect.
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has repeatedly raised alarms about the deteriorating condition of these maritime veterans, many of whom are now in their 70s and 80s, having served the nation during NNSL’s operational years from 1959 to 1995.
Federal Government’s Unfulfilled Promises
Despite numerous assurances from successive administrations, the federal government has consistently failed to honor its obligations to the ex-NNSL workforce. The Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL) was established by the Nigerian government in 1959. Despite heavy investment and subsidies, the state-owned company was unable to compete with European lines… Deeply indebted, the NNSL was liquidated in 1995 and all 21 of its vessels were sold.
The liquidation process, which should have included proper compensation for workers, has remained incomplete for thirty years, leaving thousands of former employees and their families in financial distress.
Inadequate Government Response
While the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has made some gestures toward addressing the crisis, the efforts remain woefully inadequate. NIMASA offered 100 million naira to offset the terminal benefits. However, if others like Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigerian Shippers Council and the rest also add funds, there will be enough to go round the expected beneficiaries.
Maritime industry analysts argue that the N100 million allocation is insufficient to address the scale of unpaid benefits owed to over 2,000 former workers and their beneficiaries.
Union’s Growing Frustration
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria has expressed increasing frustration with the government’s handling of the situation. Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, are planning to jointly conduct a physical verification of the defunct Nigerian National Shipping Line, NNSL seafarers/next of kins.
However, union leaders argue that verification exercises are meaningless without concrete financial commitments to pay the outstanding entitlements.
Impact on New Maritime Initiatives
The unresolved NNSL debts have cast a shadow over the government’s plans to revive Nigeria’s national shipping capacity. Maritime workers have warned that any new national shipping line initiative will lack credibility as long as the government continues to renege on its obligations to former NNSL employees.
The ongoing crisis has also undermined confidence in Nigeria’s maritime sector and raised questions about the government’s commitment to its maritime workforce.
Call for Immediate Action
Maritime stakeholders are calling for immediate intervention from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to address this humanitarian crisis. They argue that the continuous deaths of unpaid seafarers represent a moral stain on Nigeria’s maritime industry and a betrayal of workers who dedicated their lives to national service.
Industry observers note that with each passing day, more ex-NNSL seafarers die, taking with them institutional knowledge and leaving behind families still fighting for basic justice and compensation.
The federal government has yet to respond to the latest calls for immediate settlement of the outstanding entitlements, leaving the maritime community to wonder if the remaining survivors will ever receive their due compensation.
This report highlights the ongoing humanitarian crisis facing former employees of the Nigerian National Shipping Line, thirty years after its liquidation. The situation underscores broader concerns about the treatment of retired workers in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
For a follow up on this report and other maritime and waterways related news, always visit www.waterwaysnews.ng
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SWAAADO Intensifies Waterways Safety Sensitization Campaign to Waterfront Communities in Lagos State.
SWAAADO Intensifies Waterways Safety Sensitization Campaign to Waterfront Communities in Lagos State.
130 Persons, Including Boat Drivers, Fishermen, Community Leaders and Everyday Waterway Users, Participate as Organization Plans Free Training and Licensing for Boat Skippers
Thursday 12th of February 2026, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos State
Sustainable Waterways Awareness Advancement and Advocacy Organization (SWAAADO), has expanded its ongoing waterways safety sensitization campaign to three communities on Onisiwo Island in Onisiwo Kingdom, Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State.
The comprehensive safety awareness program, which covered Ilufemiloye, Irede, and Igbayilola Tie-Gate Communities, attracted 130 participants comprising boat users, fishermen and boat skippers who engaged in robust discussions on waterways safety understanding and knowledge.
Chief Emmanuel Omotayo, the Baale of Ilufemiloye Community, who attended the occasion, expressed satisfaction with the initiative, noting the visible joy on the faces of community participants. “We need more of this sensitization campaign in our kingdom,” the community leader stated.
Comprehensive Safety Education
Chief Raymond Gold, SWAAADO’s Head of Desk, Corporate Communication and Strategy, took participants through an extensive waterways safety sensitization program, educating them on critical safety measures required when boarding and disembarking from boats.
Chief Gold unveiled SWAAADO’s ambitious plans for waste management in waterfront communities, emphasizing the detrimental effects that the dumping of household waste on our waterways, could have on aquatic life. He also announced the organization’s groundbreaking initiative to provide free training and licensing for boat skippers while listing them on SWAAADO’s Nigeria Waterways Directory platform – a move designed to bring boat operators into the oversight framework of maritime regulatory agencies.
Partnership for Seamless Training
Mrs. Ada Okpanige Agbo, representing SWYRE Marine, a NIMASA-accredited training institution, gave details on the need for every boat skipper to be trained and licensed urging participants to avail themselves of the opportunity that SWAAADO provides. She confirmed that SWYRE Marine has partnered with SWAAADO to ensure seamless training and licensing of boat skippers.
Engr. Shittu Oladimeji of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) stressed the importance of constant safety consciousness while highlighting the agency’s ongoing efforts in sensitizing waterways users about safety compliance. He announced LASWA’s readiness to support community waterways safety volunteers and requested the compilation of names for official registration and training in preparation for engagement
Industry Stakeholders Endorse Initiative
Comrade Osaweren O. Larry, representing the Lagos Commercial Private Boat District of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, described the SWAAADO’s Nigeria Waterways Directory concept as “a game changer” in the nation’s waterways industry. He noted that the platform would would instil discipline in the sector by listing all stakeholders with verifiable data and providing mechanisms to blacklist erring participants.
“The burden of safety on our waterways is a shared responsibility,” Larry emphasized, calling on regulatory agencies to partner with SWAAADO in addressing major challenges facing the maritime sector.
Engr. Gimada of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) delivered what observers described as a fantastic safety message, further reinforcing the importance of waterways safety education.
Chief Femi Alade, the Baale of Irede Community, also addressing the gathering, advising both passengers and boat skippers to maintain safety consciousness at all times.
Life Vests Distribution
The sensitization campaign ended with the distribution of life vests to the two jetties serving the three communities, providing essential safety equipment to enhance passenger protection on the waterways.
SWAAADO’s waterways safety campaign is supported by Simtop International Limited, Best-Time Global Logistics and Solutions Ltd., Waterways Integrated Synergy Limited, and SWYRE Marine, whose collective commitment continues to drive safety awareness across Lagos State waterfront communities.
The organization’s multi-faceted approach – combining education, free training, licensing, and regulatory integration – represents a comprehensive strategy to enhance safety standards and formalize operations in Nigeria’s inland waterways sector.
*For more information about SWAAADO’s waterways safety initiatives and upcoming training programs, community members and boat operators are encouraged to contact the organization through its official channels.*
SWAAADO Launches 2026 Waterways Safety Sensitization Campaign in Lagos Waterfront Communities
Onisiwo Island, Lagos State
– The Sustainable Waterways Awareness Advancement and Advocacy Organization (SWAAADO), supported by key industry stakeholders, today conducted a comprehensive waterways safety sensitization campaign at Bishop-Kodji and Whala-Kodji communities on Onisiwo Island, Lagos. The event brought together over 120 community members and representatives from key maritime regulatory agencies.
The event, tagged “Waterways Safety Sensitization Campaign for Waterfront Communities and Waterways Users in Lagos State,” drew participation from the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), SWYRE Marine, and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN).
The campaign is supported by key industry leaders committed to advancing waterways safety across Nigeria. Supporting organizations include Simtop Ventures International Limited, Best-Time Global Logistics and Solutions Ltd, SWYRE Marine, Waterways Integrated Synergy Limited, and Nigeria Waterways Directory, demonstrating strong private sector commitment to maritime safety advocacy.
Chief Raymond Gold, Head of Corporate Communication and Strategy at SWAAADO, unveiled the organization’s ambitious plan to train 5,000 boat skippers across Nigeria’s eight coastal states and five inland states. Lagos State will account for 300 trainees, while the other seven coastal states will receive 200 trainees each, with the remaining slots distributed among the five inland states.
“This initiative was born out of the tragic boat mishaps that happened in the mid northern part of the country, where many lives were lost due to lack of waterways safety awareness,” Chief Gold explained during the event.
SWAAADO’s intervention follows extensive research into the root causes of recurrent boat accidents across Nigerian waterways. The organization has developed a multi-pronged approach that includes community awareness campaigns, professional training for boat operators, and the creation of a regulatory support platform.
Central to this strategy is the Nigeria Waterways Directory (www.nigeriawaterwaysdirectory.com), an online publication that is registered with the National Library (EISSN: 3122-0045). The platform is designed to list trained and certified boat operators while providing regulatory authorities with the capability to blacklist non-compliant operators.
Engr. Sola Fumilugba delivered a lecture on waterways safety codes and enforcement, emphasizing the critical need for boat operators to obtain proper licensing. His presentation highlighted regulatory requirements that many operators currently overlook.
Mr. Shittu Oladimeji, representing LASWA, outlined the Lagos State Government’s ongoing efforts to ensure waterways safety and urged all waterways users to maintain constant safety consciousness.
Mrs. Ada Okpanige Agbo of SWYRE Marine, a NIMASA-accredited training institution (ATI) and key partner of the initiative, stressed on the importance of professional training, certification and licensing for boat skippers, explaining the standards required for proper licensing.
Comrade Owolabi Omotayo, newly elected Chairman of Lagos Commercial Private Boat District of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria-MWUN, provided candid advice to boat workers on safety compliance and licensing requirements before operating vessels.
Comrade Osaweren O. Larry, representing the Waterfront Boat Owners and Transporters Association of Nigeria (WABOTAN), reinforced the message of safety code compliance while clarifying the distinct roles of the Maritime Workers Union and various boat owners associations.
The sensitization campaign concluded with concrete results: five waterways safety volunteers were identified for interviews and subsequent training, life jackets were distributed to attendees, and campaign materials were shared among all participants.
The event represents a significant step in SWAAADO’s broader mission to reduce waterways accidents through education, training, and improved regulatory compliance across Nigerian waterways, bolstered by the commitment of its industry partners.
For more information about SWAAADO’s initiatives, visit www.swaaado.org
For information on how to list your business or skill on the Nigeria Waterways Directory visit www.nigeriawaterwaysdirectory.com
Supporting Partners: Simtop International Limited | Best-Time Global Logistics and Solutions Ltd | SWYRE Marine | Waterways Integrated Synergy Limited | Nigeria Waterways Directory
SWAAADO Holds Community Waterways Safety Sensitization Campaign in Bishop Kodji Community Tomorrow.
Sustainable Waterways Awareness Advancement and Advocacy Organization aka SWAAADO, a non-profit organization advocating for safe and sustainable waterways is set to hold a community waterways safety sensitization campaign tomorrow Thursday 29 of January 2026.
The venue is the community field at Bishop Kodji community within Onisiwo Kingdom, Snake Island, along the Badagry Creek Apapa, Lagos. According to a public statement made available by Chief Raymond Gold, SWAAADO’s corporate communication director, this event is part of the organization’s sensitization campaign for waterfront communities and waterways users in Lagos state. The events are being held in collaboration with Waterfront Boat Owners and Transporters Association of Nigeria WABOTAN, and in partnership with NIMASA, NIWA and LASWA, Chief Raymond Gold stated. Highlights of the events include distribution of waterways safety information materials, waterways safety gadgets and setting up of Community Waterways Safety Volunteers. Details of this and other forth coming events are available on SWAAADO’s website; www.swaaado.org
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