FG Commits to Ensuring Global Standards in Maritime Sector

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja 

The federal government has said that Nigeria remains committed to building a maritime sector that is globally competitive, resilient, and inclusive.

In a statement marking the 20th Anniversary of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Alhaji Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi described it as a landmark international instrument that has fundamentally transformed labour standards within the global maritime industry

The statement signed by the Ministry’s Head Press and Public Relations, Annah Daniel said the Minister expressed Nigeria’s commitment to the Maritime Labour Convention adding that the country’s target extends well beyond ratification.

Dingyadi said the federal government has taken deliberate steps to domesticate and implement the Convention within Nigeria’s regulatory and institutional frameworks, ensuring compliance with international standards and strengthening the protection of maritime workers operating within Nigeria’s jurisdiction.

“Furthermore, through the Special Tripartite Committee of the Convention, the MLC, 2006 has undergone several amendments aimed at addressing emerging challenges within the maritime labour sector. 

“Nigeria remains actively engaged in these processes and continues to support the review and implementation of these amendments to further strengthen labour protections for seafarers.

As part of the global commemoration, the minister said that Nigeria’s participation in the high-level commemorative panel discussions convened by the Director-General of the International Labour Organization in Geneva on 10 March 2026. 

The event provided an important platform to reflect on the achievements recorded over the past twenty years while reinforcing the call for stronger enforcement of the Convention worldwide.

The minister said: “Under the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government, Nigeria remains committed to building a maritime sector that is globally competitive, resilient, and inclusive.

“Our aspiration is to position Nigeria not only as a leading maritime nation in Africa but also as a global reference point for the protection of seafarers’ rights and the promotion of decent work at sea.

“To our seafarers and dockworkers, the federal government expresses its deep appreciation for your resilience, professionalism, and invaluable contributions to Nigeria’s maritime industry. 

“Your dedication remains the engine that drives Nigeria’s marine and blue economy and sustains global trade”.