MWUN President, Bunu Marks Seafarer Day , Emphasises Safety Amid Rising Global Security Threats
The President-General of the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Francis Bunu has joined the global maritime community in commemorating the 2026 Day of the Seafarer, urging governments and industry stakeholders to prioritise the welfare, safety and career development of seafarers amid rising geopolitical tensions across key international shipping routes.
In a statement issued on Thursday to mark the annual celebration observed every June 26, Bunu described seafarers as the backbone of global trade, noting that they continue to face enormous risks while ensuring the uninterrupted movement of goods across the world.
The 2026 celebration is themed, “Carrying World Trade. Carrying the Risks,” highlighting the increasing dangers confronting seafarers as a result of conflicts and security challenges in strategic maritime corridors such as the Strait of Hormuz, the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov and the Red Sea region.
According to the MWUN President-General, the theme serves as a timely reminder that seafarers must not become victims or collateral damage of geopolitical conflicts.
“Seafarers must not become collateral victims of geopolitical conflicts. While they carry world trade, they also bear enormous risks and challenges in the course of their duties,” he said.
Bunu commended Nigerian seafarers and their counterparts across the world for their resilience, discipline, commitment and professionalism despite the uncertainties and hardships associated with the profession.
“I salute Nigerian seafarers and all mariners across the globe for their resilience, discipline, commitment and loyalty in the face of the challenges that continue to confront international shipping,” he stated.
The labour leader, however, expressed concern over the state of maritime manpower development in Nigeria, particularly the challenges facing graduates of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron.
He lamented that many graduates leave the institution without the requisite certifications needed to compete effectively with their counterparts in other countries, thereby limiting their employment opportunities within the maritime sector.
“Many graduates are being turned out yearly without adequate certifications to compete favourably with their counterparts across West Africa and beyond. This situation has made securing employment increasingly difficult and requires urgent attention,” Bunu noted.
The MWUN President-General also decried the absence of a national carrier, recalling the era of the defunct Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL), which he described as a source of pride for Nigerian seafarers and a major platform for maritime employment and capacity development.
He observed that successive administrations had failed to revive a national shipping line despite Nigeria’s vast maritime potential and strategic position in global trade.
“It is not a good development for a maritime nation like Nigeria that we still do not have an indigenous national shipping line flying the Nigerian flag. The return of a national carrier will create opportunities for seafarers and strengthen the country’s maritime sector,” he said.
Bunu therefore called on the Federal Government and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy to take concrete steps towards reviving a national shipping line, stressing that such a move would restore lost opportunities and enhance Nigeria’s standing within the global maritime community.
The MWUN leader also praised stakeholders and practitioners in the maritime industry for their contributions to the growth of the sector and their continued collaboration with the union.
He expressed optimism that the Nigerian maritime industry would attain its rightful place among leading maritime nations if the necessary reforms and investments were implemented.
The Day of the Seafarer is celebrated annually worldwide to recognise the critical role played by seafarers in facilitating international trade and sustaining the global economy, often under challenging and hazardous conditions.
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