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Maritime stakeholders have stressed that Nigeria’s transition to greener ports must not leave dockworkers behind, calling for targeted training and workforce development to prepare workers for emerging technologies and sustainable port operations.
The call was made on Thursday at the Shipping Correspondents Association of Nigeria (SCAN) Dockworkers’ Day 2026 in Lagos, themed: “Green Ports: Sustainable Practices for Dockworkers.”
Delivering the keynote address, President of the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping (NCS), Alhaji Aminu Umar, represented by the Chamber’s Director-General, Mrs. Vivian Chimezie-Azubuike, said the success of green and smart ports depends largely on the readiness of the workforce.
He emphasized the need for 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, represented by the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, described dockworkers as indispensable to port operations and the growth of the marine and blue economy.
He 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, adding that sustainable port operations can only be achieved when workers are protected, respected and empowered.
President of the National Association of Stevedoring Operators (NASO), Mr. Bolaji Sunmola, said operational efficiency remains Nigeria’s most practical route to greener ports.
According to him, 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 (NLC), Prince 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, SCAN President, 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.
