‘Dockworkers central to green port transformation’

Maritime stakeholders have stressed the need for targeted training of dockworkers and workforce development to prepare workers for emerging technologies and sustainable port operations.

Stakeholders also stated that dockworkers are an integral part of Nigeria’s transition to greener ports. This formed the thrust of discussions on Thursday in Lagos during the 2026 Dockworkers Day organised by the Shipping Correspondents Association of Nigeria.

The event was themed “Green Ports: Sustainable Practices for Dockworkers”. In his keynote address, the President of the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping, Aminu Umar, said the success of green and smart ports depends largely on the readiness of the workforce.

Umar, who was represented at the event by the Chamber’s Director-General, Mrs Vivian Chimezie-Azubuike, emphasised the importance of a comprehensive needs assessment to determine the number of dockworkers requiring training and the specific skills needed to improve productivity and adapt to technological changes.

“We don’t have the data. We need real data to know how many people are actually in need of training and to conduct a proper needs assessment that will identify who requires what kind of training that adds value to their jobs,” Umar said.

According to him, investments in automation, digital systems and environmentally friendly technologies must be matched by investments in human capital to ensure workers benefit from the industry’s transformation.

Also speaking, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, described dockworkers as “indispensable to port operations and the growth of the marine and blue economy.”

Oyetola, who was represented at the event by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to workers’ welfare, safety and dignity, warning employers against neglecting labour standards.

“The Federal Government will not tolerate any employer of dock labour who fails to place the welfare, safety and wellbeing of workers at the centre of their operations,” he said.

Oyetola added that sustainable port operations can only be achieved when workers are protected, respected and empowered.

The President of the National Association of Stevedoring Operators, Mr Bolaji Sunmola, said operational efficiency remains Nigeria’s most practical route to greener ports.

Sunmola maintained that reducing cargo dwell time, vessel waiting periods and truck congestion around port corridors would deliver immediate environmental benefits by cutting fuel consumption and emissions. “The carbon that is never emitted is the greenest of all,” Sunmola stated.

He called for the integration of measurable environmental performance standards into Nigeria’s ongoing port modernisation programme, including emissions reduction targets, equipment upgrades, waste management systems and cargo dwell-time benchmarks.

Earlier, Deputy National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Adewale Adeyanju, warned that the global shift toward green ports must not result in job losses or worker exclusion.

He noted that automation, renewable energy systems, digital logistics platforms and cleaner cargo-handling technologies are rapidly changing port operations worldwide.

“Any conversation about green ports must place workers at the heart of policy formulation and implementation,” he said, stressing that workers should be equipped with the skills needed to thrive in the changing maritime environment.

In his welcome remarks, the President of SCAN, Mr Moses Ebosele, said investment in human capital development remains critical to the success of Nigeria’s port modernisation efforts.

He noted that while the maritime industry is embracing cleaner and more sustainable practices, dockworkers remain central to efficient cargo movement, trade facilitation and economic growth.

“The proposed modernisation of our ports will not achieve its desired objectives without sustained investment in human capital development, continuous training and improved welfare packages for workers,” Ebosele said.