Findings by Shipping Position Daily have revealed that despite an anticipated 90,000 global seafarer shortfall by 2026, Nigeria is poorly positioned to benefit from the looming qualified manpower demand, contributing only 2.3 percent to the world’s maritime workforce due to inadequate training capacity and the persistent non-recognition of her certifications.
This is even as experts warn that Nigeria is not positioned to benefit from the rising demand, due to chronic gaps in training, certification and international recognition of its maritime institutions.
Statistics from the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) project a massive deficit in competent seafarers, particularly in the oil and gas sector. Yet, Nigeria contributes less than 2.3 percent to the global seafaring labour force, with only about 6,000 registered sailors out of the 1.9 million seafarers worldwide.
Further findings by Shipping Position Daily show that Nigerian seafarers make up less than 0.3 percent of the global workforce—an alarming figure tied to limited training vessels, inadequate sea-time opportunities, and certificates that lack international acceptance.
Speaking with our correspondent, stakeholders lamented that Nigeria risks missing out on the global workforce gap, unless it urgently reforms its training ecosystem.
Captain Yusuf Hambali, former Executive at Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) told Shipping Position Daily that while the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) has recorded improvements, Nigeria’s Certificate of Competency (CoC) remains unrecognized globally. He said although efforts are ongoing to attain international acceptance by 2026, but the country presently suffers from a lack of internationally competitive maritime institutions and training vessels.
While acknowledging past discussions on industry-aligned manpower development, Captain Hambali said implementation has been slow, though the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is making notable strides through its support schemes such as the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP). He, however warned against overdependence on loans for training, calling for sustainable models that will retain maritime value within the country.
The Former NLNG Executive stated that Nigeria must adopt incentive-driven models similar to the United Kingdom, where shipping companies enjoy tax reliefs for cadet training. He proposed discounted rates or partial tax exemptions for firms that employ or train Nigerian cadets. “If we can incentivize foreign companies that come to lift crude oil or gas, it will not only aid cadet training, but also reduce unemployment. Even if government is not taxing them directly, seafarers’ earnings will still circulate within the Nigerian economy.” he noted.
Further highlighting systemic weaknesses, a maritime researcher and Master Mariner, Captain Abdulrasheed Onakoya warned that Nigeria’s absence from the IMO White List, casts doubt on the robustness of its certification process. He disclosed that shipowners often complain that the performance of some Nigerian seafarers do not align with their certificates, leading to wage discrimination and welfare abuse.
Onakoya stressed that maritime institutions suffer from inadequate funding, obsolete equipment, limited sea-time provisions, and corruption in certification processes. These deficiencies make Nigerian cadets less marketable globally and deepen unemployment.
The Master Mariner and Researcher urged International Oil Companies (IOCs) to contribute to a dedicated cadet training fund, arguing that many Nigerian-trained seafarers eventually work with these companies. According to him, very few shipping companies, locally or internationally, recruit Nigerian seafarers. He said foreign shipping firms also reportedly prefer their own nationals, questioning Nigeria’s training quality. “Because of the high supply of job seekers and few available vacancies, ship owners exploit them, offering poor pay and working conditions,” he said.
Captain Tajudeen Alao, National President of Nigerian Association of Master Mariners (NAMM), said the country’s training framework suffers from deep structural inconsistencies that continue to push Nigerian seafarers out of global relevance.
According to him, many Nigerian marine technicians and cadets lack essential certifications which automatically disqualify them from employment in regions like Canada, the United States, and other advanced maritime nations. “If you don’t have paper, there is no way you can be engaged,” he stressed, adding that the global maritime sector places absolute premium on documentation and competence.
Captain Alao explained that for Nigeria to retain and strengthen its White List status, every institution offering maritime programmes must undergo proper IMO-aligned audits. However, he noted that conflicting standards set by the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), and University regulatory bodies have created confusion and weakened Nigeria’s certification credibility.
“In Nigeria, everybody wants to set their own standard. The Ministry of Education has its own the NBTE has its own, Universities have theirs. We are accepting B.Sc. and even degrees that do not align with IMO competency-based requirements,” he said. “Instead of focusing on core seamanship, some institutions are offering irrelevant courses. How does teaching French relate to maritime competency?”
Captain Alao further criticized the recent trend of transforming maritime academies into degree-awarding institutions without addressing the fundamental gaps in training quality and sea-time availability. According to him, the maritime profession, unlike many others, demands competence above academic qualifications.
He warned that unless Nigeria overhauls its maritime education system, enforces uniform standards, and reforms certification processes, the country will remain an insignificant player in the global manpower market, despite the projected 90,000 global seafarer shortfall by 2026.
