Maritime Labour and Trade Union
Unity is our Strength : Comrade Owolabi Speaks on Justice, Safety and Welfare of Workers on Lagos Waterways
Unity is our Strength : Comrade Owolabi Speaks on Justice, Safety and Welfare of Workers on Lagos Waterways
An Exclusive Interview with Comrade Omotayo Patrick Owolabi, Chairman, Lagos Commercial Private Boat District, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria
By Oghenewoke Osaweren | Labour and trade Union Correspondent | March 2026
Sequel to Comrade Larry’s Interview — in which he highlighted the need for cooperation between workers and boat owners — we turn our attention to the man at the helm of the district, the newly elected chairman. Comrade Omotayo Patrick Owolabi is an experienced union leader whose voice carries the weight of thousands of boat workers whose daily lives and livelihoods play out on the waterways of Lagos. In this exclusive interview, he speaks candidly about the challenges face by members of the union, the future of boat workers in Nigeria, and his expectation of a safer, more just waterway sector.
Q: Comrade Chairman, you now lead the Lagos Commercial Private Boat District after years in the movement. What does this chairmanship mean to you personally, and to the thousands of workers who look to you for direction?
A: Thank you for this opportunity to speak directly to our members and to the public. This chairmanship is not a trophy — it is a burden I carry with both hands. When I look at the faces of our boat workers at the jetties of Marina, Apapa, Ikorodu, Badore,Epe and Badagry , I see people who wake up before dawn, who risk their lives on the waterways every single day, and who go home at night unsure of tomorrow. That responsibility humbles me. I did not take this seat to enrich myself. I took it because someone has to stand in the gap. Our members deserve a chairman who will lose sleep over their welfare, and I intend to be that man.
Q: Your colleague Comrade Larry recently spoke of the need for workers and boat owners to learn to work together. As chairman of this district, how do you view that relationship between labour and capital on the Lagos waterways?
A: Comrade Larry spoke well, and I align fully with his position. The waterways of Lagos are not owned by any single man — they belong to the people, to commerce, to the history of this city. Boat owners bring capital and vessels (boats); our members bring skill, discipline, and their very lives. Neither can function without the other. But let me be frank, cooperation does not mean submission. It does not mean that workers should accept exploitation in the name of peace. True partnership requires mutual respect, fair wages, and decent working conditions. When boat owners fulfil their obligations to our members, they will find in us the most dedicated and loyal workforce in this country. We want harmony — but it must be a harmony built on justice.
Q: Safety remains a persistent concern on Lagos waterways. Overloading, poorly maintained vessels, lack of life jackets — these issues have claimed many lives. What concrete steps is the union taking to address this?
A: The deaths on our waterways are sometimes not by accidents — they are consequences of neglect. When a boat capsizes because it was overloaded beyond capacity that is not an act of God. That is the result of greed, poor regulation, and the absence of enforceable safety standards. Our union has been at the forefront of demanding that every boat owner who intends to operate his or her boat on the waterways of Lagos should provide in the boat, certified standard life jackets for every passenger. We have engaged the National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA and the Lagos State Waterways Authority, LASWA. We are pushing for regular safety audits and for operators who violate safety standards to face real consequences. I am also calling on the Federal Government to take maritime safety on inland waterways as seriously as they take aviation safety. A life lost on the Lagos lagoon is no less precious than a life lost on an aeroplane that is why we are also advocating that the boat ferry transportation to be included in the disbursement of the CVFF fund for boat operators to access and acquire standard modern boats on a prescribed lenient condition by the government, it will go a long way to enhance safety on our waterways because the rickety boats will be removed significantly from the waterways. I will use this media engagement opportunity to commend the effort of NIWA Lagos Area Manager in the person of Engr Sarat Braimah for providing a platform for the training and licensing of some boat captain (workers) recently in Lagos State for free. This will certainly enhance their capability for safety on the waterways. We in the Union really appreciate that act from the NIWA Area Manager. I will also commend the efforts of LASWA General Manager in the person of Mr Damilola Emmanuel who always engage the union over Lagos state waterways development projects. I commend these two government agencies for their swift respond to boat emergencies on Lagos inland waterways by promptly deploying rescue teams to scenes of boat mishaps
Q: Many boat workers lack basic welfare coverage — no health insurance, no pension, and no formal contracts with their employers. How is the union fighting for these workers’ rights?
A: This is one of the most urgent battles we are fighting. The majority of our members exist in a shadow economy — no paper, no protection. Boat captains, engine operators, ticketing staff, jetty hands — they work for years and have nothing to show for it when they are injured or when they grow old. We have been in dialogue with the relevant authorities and with the Boat Owners Associations to establish a contributory welfare scheme. We want every worker in this district registered, documented, and covered. Under my chairmanship, we have begun a registration drive across all our terminals. We are building a database of our members so that we can negotiate from a position of knowledge and strength. No employer should be able to tell us there are no workers when we come to the table — we will bring the names, the numbers, and the facts. The rights, privileges, security, safety and welfare of the boat workers on our waterways needs to be discussed with relevant stakeholders including government agencies.
Q: Irregular and withheld wages remain a common complaint. How does the union intervene when members report that their earnings have been seized or delayed?
A: This is unacceptable, and we treat every such report with the seriousness it deserves. Our district has a grievance management procedure. When a member reports wage non payment — we first engage the boat owner directly. We give them an opportunity to correct the wrong. If they refuse or delay, we escalate the issue. We are not afraid to mobilize our members, and boat owners know that a jetty without workers is a jetty with no business. But I want to be clear: we do not use industrial action as a first resort. We are responsible leaders. We pursue dialogue, then arbitration, and only when all else fails to correct the situation that we exercise our legitimate rights as organized labour. What we will never do is remain silent while our people are cheated.
Q: The Lagos waterway is being described as an underutilized economic asset. Do you see the commercial boat sector playing a bigger role in Lagos transportation, and what must happen for that potential to be realized?
A: Lagos state has the most extensive network of inland waterway in West Africa. The road congestion in this city — the gridlock that steals hours from people’s lives every day — can be significantly relieved by a modern, efficient waterway transport system. But to get there, we need investment. We need modern ferry boats, proper terminals with amenities, trained and certified boat workers, and a serious regulatory framework. Our members are ready. They have the experience and the commitment. What is needed is political will from government and responsible investment from the private sector. There is the multi-billion naira aqua tourism economy potentials of Lagos state that remains grossly untapped. I commend the Lagos state Government under the leadership of Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu on the state’s efforts to invite investors to the Lagos waterways through projects such as the OMI-BUS project and OMI-EKO electric ferries project. I am convinced that when all stakeholders come together with organized labour at the table, we can transform the Lagos waterways.
Q: There are concerns about the proliferation of unregistered boats and unlicensed operators. How does this affect your members, and what is the union’s position on regulation?
A: Unregistered boats and unlicensed operators are a threat to everyone — to passengers, to legitimate operators, and most importantly to our members who follow the rules. When a cowboy operator undercuts proper fares, endangers passengers, and try to escape consequences, it creates pressure on legitimate operators to cut corners too. It undermines the standards we have fought hard to establish. The union fully supports a robust licensing and registration regime — provided it is applied fairly and transparently, and not used as an instrument of harassment or extortion by officials. We want regulation that protects workers and passengers alike, and we want to be part of the process. The union must have a seat at the table when regulations are being designed, not just when we are being told to comply.
Q: What message do you have for boat owners who remain hostile to union activities and who attempt to intimidate workers seeking to exercise their rights?
A: My message is simple and I will say it plainly: the era of treating boat workers with disdain is over. This is the 21st century. Our members have rights enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and in the Nigeria Labour Act. Any boat owner who victimizes a worker for joining this union, for attending union meetings, or for speaking up about unsafe conditions will face the full weight of our legal and industrial response. We document everything. We have members who are now learning their basic rights these days, and we have solidarity across districts. I also want to say to those boat owners who have embraced responsible partnership with the union — we see you, we appreciate you, and we will work with you to build a prosperous and sustainable waterway sector. It does not have to be adversarial. We choose partnership.
Q: As you look ahead, what is your primary vision for the Lagos Commercial Private Boat District under your chairmanship?
A: My vision is a district where every single member can go to work with dignity and return home safely. I want a district where boat workers are not ashamed to say what they do — where being a waterway worker is a respected profession with a career structure, training pathways, fair pay, and social protection. I want to build the institutional capacity of this district so that long after I am gone, the structure remains to serve the next generation of workers. We are putting in place mentorship programmes, working with NGO’s, technical institutions on certification courses for boat operators and engineers, and establishing channels of continuous dialogue with government agencies and employers. We are into talks with an NGO called SWAAADO over this same training, licensing and waterways safety sensitization. This is not about Owolabi. This is about the movement.
Q: Finally, Comrade Chairman, what is your direct message to the workers of the Lagos Commercial Private Boat District — the men and women on the waterways every day?
A: To our members on the waterways— the boat captains and deckhand who navigate the lagoon everyday, the engine operators who keep those vessels(boats) moving, the ticketing staff who face the crowds at the jetties, the cleaners and the loaders and every hand that makes this industry work — I say to you: you are seen. You are not invisible. Your sacrifices are not in vain. This union belongs to you, not to me. I am your servant in this office. Stay united, know your basic rights, participate in the union activities, and trust the process we are building together. The road is not easy, but we are walking it together to success. No condition is permanent. A better day is coming for the Lagos waterways and to all our members with the support from our great Union, the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria-MWUN under the able and charismatic leadership of our President General Comrade Francis Bunu,we will build a better future with our own hands for the waterways workers. Thank you.
Comrade Omotayo Patrick Owolabi is the Chairman of the Lagos Commercial Private Boat District of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN). This interview was conducted on March 16 2026 as part of an ongoing leadership interview series with key figures in Nigeria’s waterway transport sector.
Dockworkers Threaten Nationwide Port Shutdown Over Stalled NJIC Wage Talks
Give Terminal Operators Until Week’s End to Open Wage Talks
By Emetena Ikuku | Waterways News | Lagos
Dockworkers could shut down Nigeria’s ports next week unless terminal operators begin long-delayed negotiations on a new wage agreement. The warning comes from the Dockworkers Branch of the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN).
Speaking in Lagos on Wednesday, the branch President, Comrade Bolaji Agboola, said members were increasingly angry and frustrated. He accused operators of terminals and jetties covered by the National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC) agreement of stalling talks on a review of workers’ rates.
The previous agreement expired at the end of May 2026, with new rates due to take effect from June 1, according to Agboola. He argued that dockworkers should already be earning revised rates. He said the branch’s Executive Council could no longer contain the agitation.
He urged the Federal Government to intervene through the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). He wants operators at the table before the close of work this week. Otherwise, he warned, port operations may be disrupted next week.
Agboola said the leadership had kept engaging members to manage the situation, but patience was wearing thin.
Waterways News could not immediately reach terminal operators for comment.
NIGERIA WATCH
Why it matters. A shutdown at the ports would quickly reach importers, exporters, freight forwarders and the barge and jetty operators who feed cargo to and from the terminals. Any stoppage would also hit Nigeria’s push for faster cargo clearance.
Background. NIMASA convenes the NJIC. It is a tripartite arrangement for Collective Bargaining Agreements on minimum standards for the dock labour industry. Wage reviews have run on a roughly two-year cycle, and past rounds have also dragged. In 2021, union officials complained that talks were dragging even after proposals were tabled. In October 2023, MWUN threatened to resume a suspended strike after talks with shipping employers collapsed.
What to watch.
NIMASA’s move: Whether it convenes the parties before the end of the week.
Jetty coverage: Agboola’s complaint includes jetty operators under the NJIC. Jetties are already a flashpoint between dockworkers and operators.
Inland impact: Any slowdown at the terminals will affect the waterway operators and boat transporters who move goods and people around the Lagos ports.
Maritime Labour and Trade Union
Mental Health at Sea: Nigeria Leads Africa as NIMASA, ITF Seal Africa’s First Seafarer Mental Health Pact
Mental Health at Sea: Nigeria Leads Africa as NIMASA, ITF Seal Africa’s First Seafarer Mental Health Pact
Agency and global transport union to embed wellbeing training in maritime curricula
By Okeoghene Onoriobe | Waterways News
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) to promote the mental health and wellbeing of Nigerian seafarers and cadets through training, awareness and capacity building.
The agreement was endorsed at the close of a three-day Seafarers’ and Cadets’ Wellbeing Awareness and Train-the-Trainers Programme, themed “Stress: Understanding, Early Management and Coping.” NIMASA organised the programme with the ITF.
NIMASA Director General Dr. Dayo Mobereola said the partnership will support capacity building and the integration of a wellbeing module into maritime training curricula. The goal is to make wellbeing a permanent part of preparing for life at sea. He was represented by the Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Mr. Jibril Abba, who signed for NIMASA.
In the DG’s words, seafarers’ wellbeing is “essential to safe shipping.” He said the programme will equip training institutions, agency officers and union partners to identify and manage stress and provide psychological first aid. He cited a 2019 ITF/Yale University study in which one in four seafarers surveyed showed signs of depression and about one in six showed signs of anxiety.
ITF Africa Regional Secretary Mr. Safiyanu Dauda Mohammed, who signed for the federation, said it is the first such agreement the ITF has entered into with any African country. “We are starting with Nigeria,” he said.
The President-General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Francis Bunu, welcomed the deal. He said seafarers need to be mentally sound to do their jobs, and called it a significant day for Nigerian seafarers.
Also present were the National President of the Nigerian Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association, Chief Engr. Bob Joseph Yousou; ITF Wellbeing Coordinator Dr. Asif Altaf; and ITF Inspector Mr. Hamani Amadou.
The programme underscores the need to refocus attention on seafarers who work in difficult conditions and spend long periods away from their families. Both parties say the partnership reflects the principle that a healthy seafarer is a safe seafarer.
NIGERIA WATCH
A first for Africa, but delivery is the test. Nigeria’s lead position is a diplomatic win for NIMASA and the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
Seafarer welfare has been on NIMASA’s agenda for years. In 2018, then-DG Dakuku Peterside threatened sanctions on ship owners who defaulted on the seafarers’ contributory pension scheme. In early 2024, the ITF’s UK-based Seafarers Trust approved a grant for a seafarers’ recreation centre, to be built with MWUN and NIMASA. Stakeholders will want to know what became of those commitments before this one is celebrated.
What to watch out for:
Curriculum integration: Whether the wellbeing module actually enters the syllabi of Nigerian maritime institutions, and by when.
Funding and timelines: The announcement gives no budget, rollout schedule or reporting mechanism.
The Reach: The MoU speaks of seafarers and cadets. Many Nigerians who work on the water are informal inland operators, such as boat drivers and boat owners represented by groups like WABOTAN and ATBOWATON. They face stress, long hours and safety risks of their own. Whether wellbeing programmes will extend to this segment, or stop at the formal deep-sea workforce, is a fair question for NIMASA, NIWA and the ministry.
Mental health support is only as credible as its follow-through, and this MoU will be judged by what happens after the signing.
Maritime Labour and Trade Union
From Ship’s Deck to Union’s Helm: Bunu Honoured with MARCON Labour Leader Award
From Ship’s Deck to Union’s Helm: Bunu Honoured with MARCON Labour Leader Award
Named MARCON Labour Leader of the Year for Seafarer-to-President-General Rise
By Emetena Ikuku | Waterways News | Lagos
The President-General of the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Francis Bunu Abi, has been named Labour Leader of the Year by the Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON). The award recognises his leadership, his push for workers’ welfare and his role in keeping industrial peace in the maritime sector.
MARCON said the honour reflects Bunu’s sustained advocacy for maritime workers’ rights, his commitment to collective bargaining and better conditions of service, and his efforts to promote safety and constructive engagement among organised labour, employers and government agencies.
The award was presented at the 2026 MARCON National Conference on Sustainable Fishing on Wednesday, September 30, at Rockview Hotel, Apapa, Lagos. Bunu was not physically present to receive it. The plaque was presented by the Secretary-General of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Godfrey Nwosu, to MWUN Vice President-General, Comrade Matina Njoku, and Comrade Kenneth Ibanga, the union’s Deputy Secretary-General for Protocol and International Relations, who accepted on his behalf.
A career built at sea
Bunu is a seafarer by training. He worked aboard vessels, locally and internationally, before moving into union leadership.
His climb through MWUN spans more than two decades. It began as an ex-officio member of the Port Harcourt Seafarers Unit, and he became chairman of the unit in 2001. He was elected Rivers State District Chairman in 2005 and returned unopposed for a second term in 2009. In 2013 he became President of the Seamen/Seafarers Branch and served a second term there as well.
He was elected Deputy President-General of MWUN in 2021. In 2024, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) appointed him Dockworkers Regional Chairman.
On March 28, 2025, Bunu emerged unopposed as President-General at the union’s 6th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference in Lagos, succeeding Comrade Adewale Adeyanju. He is the first member of the Seafarers Branch to rise to the union’s top office.
Agenda under his leadership
Under Bunu, MWUN has stayed focused on workers’ welfare, collective bargaining, safety awareness and accident compensation. It has also kept up engagement with key agencies, including the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
Bunu holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Rivers State University. He has also had international training in collective bargaining, employee rights, management, communication, performance enhancement and leadership.
Chairman of the MARCON Conference Planning Committee, Paul Ogbuokiri, said the award recognises Bunu’s long service to organised maritime labour and his steady progression through the union’s ranks. He said Bunu’s path shows the value of hands-on industry experience in representing workers and encouraging constructive engagement in the sector.
The conference, themed “Sustainable Fishing in Nigeria: Pathways to Growth, Food Security and Coastal Livelihoods,” brought together policymakers, regulators, industry operators, researchers and other stakeholders to discuss how to develop Nigeria’s fisheries sector sustainably.
Nigeria Watch
Bunu’s recognition is a reminder of who keeps Nigeria’s maritime economy running. Workers are the human backbone of shipping and port operations, yet their welfare and safety rarely get the attention that policy announcements, concession deals and investment pledges do.
His background deserves note. A union president who has worked as a seafarer is better placed to speak credibly on wages, safety and compensation. The test of that leadership is whether agreements reached with NIMASA, the NPA and employers translate into real protections on vessels and on the quayside.
The award also comes at a conference on fishing and coastal livelihoods. Many of the people in that value chain, from artisanal fishers to small-scale boat operators on creeks and inland waterways, work outside formal collective bargaining. For them, the gap between what policy promises and what is delivered is widest.
Waterways News will keep asking whether the welfare and safety gains won by organised labour reach informal operators who are also part of the union through the Commercial and Private Boats District.
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