The President General, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Francis Bunu, has accused security agencies operating in the nation’s ports of dereliction of duty following a rise in attacks on vessels while at berth.
Bunu specifically blamed the Nigerian Navy and the Marine Police unit of the Nigeria Police Force for failing to adequately secure port waters and waterfronts, warning that the trend could damage Nigeria’s reputation in the global maritime community.
Speaking when members of the Shipping Correspondents Association of Nigeria (SCAN) paid him a courtesy visit ahead of the 2026 edition of the annual Dockworkers’ Day celebration, the MWUN leader said attacks on ships at berth are unacceptable in a regulated port environment.
According to him, the Marine Police are primarily responsible for the protection, safety and security of vessels once they berth, as they are mandated to patrol and secure the waterfront.
“Why will a vessel berth and people will come from across the water in their numbers to attack the vessel at the berth?” he asked.
“These vessels are foreign-owned and how do they want Nigeria to be viewed in the international community?”
Bunu lamented that such incidents indicate lapses in security coordination among relevant agencies, stressing that the situation must be urgently addressed.
“Somebody is certainly not doing their job. We can’t be having those attacks and nothing is being done to stop them by the agency responsible,” he said.
His comments come in the wake of a recent security breach at the Eko Support Terminal in Lagos, where unidentified assailants reportedly attacked a vessel while it was already berthed at the facility last week. The incident, industry sources said, raised fresh concerns among ship operators and port users about the safety of vessels within Nigerian ports.
Stakeholders fear that repeated attacks at berths, areas that are supposed to be among the most secure sections of the port, could discourage international shipping lines and worsen the country’s maritime risk profile.
Bunu therefore called for a strengthened security presence around port berths and waterfronts, warning that insecurity in such controlled areas raises deeper concerns about safety in Nigeria’s territorial waters.
“If berth is not secured, then what will happen at the high seas?” he queried.
He urged relevant security agencies and port authorities to immediately review surveillance and patrol mechanisms around port terminals to prevent further attacks and reassure international shipping operators of Nigeria’s commitment to maritime safety.
