Blog
Nigerian Seafarers Confront Unemployment and Wage Crisis Despite Global Abandonment Concerns
Nigerian Seafarers Confront Unemployment and Wage Crisis Despite Global Abandonment Concerns
WaterwaysNews.ng Exclusive Investigation
While international maritime headlines focus on a surge in seafarer abandonment cases—with over 2,200 stranded crew members and $13.1 million in unpaid wages globally in 2025—Nigerian maritime professionals face a more pressing domestic challenge: widespread unemployment and systematic underpayment.
Industry investigations reveal that Nigeria’s maritime workforce crisis differs significantly from the global abandonment trend, with local seafarers struggling against structural barriers that prevent access to employment opportunities and fair compensation.
International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) data shows abandonment cases jumped 30% globally in 2025, affecting 2,286 seafarers across 222 vessels by mid-year. This represents an increase from 2024’s 172 cases involving 1,838 seafarers and $11.5 million in unpaid wages.
However, maritime industry leaders emphasize that Nigeria’s challenges stem from different roots entirely.
“In this country, there may be only one or two cases of abandonment, and even those would likely stem from extreme situations like piracy or terrorist attacks,” explained Mrs. Rollens Macfoy, Executive Director of Ocean Deep Services Ltd and veteran manning agent. “The truth is, what Nigerian seafarers are really facing is not abandonment—it’s unemployment and underpayment.”
Macfoy attributed the employment crisis to foreign shipping lines’ market dominance and insufficient indigenous maritime capacity development. She noted that indigenous shipowners lack empowerment to acquire vessels, forcing reliance on joint venture agreements that often exclude or limit Nigerian crew participation.
“Many trained Nigerian seafarers remain idle, unable to secure vessel placements despite possessing necessary qualifications and certifications,” she stated.
The wage disparity compounds the problem, with Nigerian seafarers earning significantly below international standards—a situation Macfoy linked to poor regulation and weak unionization efforts.
Engr. Bob Yousuo, National President of the Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association (NMNOWTSSA), identified weak Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006 implementation as a critical factor in global abandonment trends.
“Poor enforcement of international labour regulations and low union participation among seafarers” drive abandonment cases worldwide, Yousuo explained. He emphasized that union membership provides access to Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA), which guarantee legal protection, job security, and welfare support.
“Without union membership, no one is there to negotiate or defend your rights. Only a CBA gives you legal protection,” he stressed.
Captain Segun Akanbi, President of Maritime Professionals Forum, clarified abandonment circumstances: “When ship owners fail to repatriate crew, stop paying salaries for more than two months, or withhold essential provisions such as food, fuel, and spare parts.”
He illustrated with a practical example: “When a seafarer joins a vessel at Lagos port and, during sign-off at another port, is told to ‘find his way’ contrary to his contract, that’s abandonment.”
Dr. Chris Ebare, Immediate Past Chairman of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS), condemned the global abandonment trend as “unacceptable and damaging to maritime profession integrity,” calling for elimination of “behavioral apathy” towards seafarers.
Industry stakeholders advocate for comprehensive solutions addressing Nigeria’s unique challenges:
Enhanced oversight of manning agents and institutional agreement compliance aligned with MLC 2006 standards.
Government prioritization of job creation and local shipowner empowerment.
Implementation of fair compensation systems matching international standards.
Increased seafarer enrollment in national unions for CBA protection.
Greater reliance on technical expert arbitration for dispute resolution.
Macfoy emphasized arbitration’s role in promoting “transparency and accountability, allowing both parties to reach mutual understanding based on facts rather than assumptions.”
While acknowledging some government and regulatory efforts, industry leaders demand more urgent intervention. Macfoy stressed that without addressing core employment and wage issues, “Nigerian seafarers will continue to suffer silently despite global attention on abandonment.”
The maritime sector’s call for action comes amid growing recognition that Nigeria’s seafarer challenges require domestic solutions distinct from international abandonment prevention measures, focusing on structural reforms that create sustainable employment opportunities and ensure competitive compensation for qualified maritime professionals.