Nigeria’s maritime community came together in Lagos to celebrate the 2025 Day of the Dockworker, an annual event that underscores the vital role of dockworkers in sustaining the nation’s trade and blue economy.
Jointly organised by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), this year’s commemoration was held under the theme “Safe Port, Safe Ship”, highlighting the essential link between safety, productivity and welfare in port operations.
The event drew senior government officials, industry leaders, union representatives and hundreds of dockworkers, all united in recognising the men and women who keep Nigeria’s maritime gateways moving. For decades, dockworkers have served as the backbone of port operations — loading and unloading cargoes, maintaining equipment, and ensuring the seamless flow of goods that power Africa’s largest economy.
Delivering the keynote address, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, paid glowing tribute to dockworkers across the country, describing them as indispensable to the nation’s economic growth and maritime progress.
Represented by the Director General of NIMASA, Dr Dayo Mobereola, the Minister emphasised that the Federal Government remains firmly committed to improving safety standards, training, and welfare for dockworkers in line with international best practices.
“Today reminds us that our dockworkers are vital to creating a maritime industry where safety is assured and productivity increases,” Oyetola said. “As dockworkers, you are the first link in the trade chain that fuels our economy and transforms the promise of the blue economy into tangible national growth. Through NIMASA, the Federal Government is implementing safety and capacity-building programmes, including the provision of modern protective equipment and enhanced professional development schemes.”
The President General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Francis Bunu, lauded the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and its agencies for their steadfast support to dockworkers, noting that recent reforms have strengthened workers’ protection and welfare.
He commended NIMASA, terminal operators and other stakeholders for recognising dockworkers’ contributions, describing the 2025 celebration—the third edition of Dockworkers’ Day—as “a reaffirmation of the value and dignity of maritime labour.”
In a goodwill message, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Alhaji Muhammadu Dingyadi, represented by Emmanuel Igbinosun, urged continued collaboration among stakeholders to ensure safe workplaces and fair remuneration in accordance with International Labour Organisation (ILO) standards.
He stressed that improving working conditions for dockworkers not only protects lives but also enhances national productivity.
Representatives of the NPA, NSC, the Nigerian Association of Stevedoring Operators (NASO), and the Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN) also took turns to commend dockworkers for their diligence, resilience and professionalism.
They pledged to continue supporting initiatives that guarantee safety, fair wages, and decent working environments across Nigerian ports.
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