Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, gave the warning on Thursday at the 2026 Dockworkers’ Day in Lagos, organised by the Shipping Correspondents Association of Nigeria (SCAN). He was represented by the General Manager, Corporate Affairs at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ikechukwu Onyemekara.
Speaking on the theme “Green Ports: Sustainable Practices for Dockworkers”, Oyetola described dockworkers as the backbone of port operations and central to the growth of Nigeria’s marine and blue economy. He said the era of treating workers as expendable assets was over, stressing that employers must comply fully with labour regulations, provide safe working environments, ensure protective equipment, support skills development and uphold workers’ rights and dignity.
He warned that government would take a firm stance against any employer that neglects these obligations, adding that sustainable port development could only be achieved where workers are protected and empowered. “As a government, we recognise the strategic importance of dock labour to the success of the marine and blue economy.
The welfare, safety, dignity and productivity of dockworkers remain a priority for the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy. “I wish to state unequivocally that 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.
Employers must comply with all applicable labour regulations, provide safe working environments, ensure the use of appropriate safety equipment, support skills development and uphold the rights and dignity of every dockworker,” Oyetola said. The Minister also noted that ongoing port rehabilitation and modernisation projects presented an opportunity to build cleaner, more efficient and globally competitive ports.
He stressed that future ports would be defined not only by infrastructure but also by people, urging the adoption of energy-efficient systems, renewable energy, smart technologies and stronger safety standards. He warned that failure to integrate sustainability into ongoing projects could leave Nigeria with obsolete infrastructure in a rapidly decarbonising global economy.