Shipping Association Warns of Rising Stowaway Incidents as Nigerian Ports Face Security Lapses
Koko Maxwella 
LAGOS, Nigeria – The Shipping Association of Nigeria (SAN) has raised alarms over persistent stowaway incidents at Nigerian ports, reporting an estimated 2,300 security infractions recorded in 2025.
Speaking during a media briefing in Lagos on Friday, SAN Chairperson Mrs Boma Alabi said criminal elements continue to gain unauthorised access to vessels despite payments made to security agencies responsible for protecting ships at berths.
Alabi revealed that 15 foreign shipping lines currently operate in Nigeria, each of which reports two to three stowaway cases weekly. “As a result of stowaway cases, sanctions are imposed on shipping companies, and we bear the cost of repatriation,” she said.
She insisted that penalties—such as the $2,000 fine imposed per arrested stowaway—should be reviewed, stressing that shipping firms should not be held responsible for systemic security failures. According to her, immigration authorities collect the fines even though companies already pay security agencies in dollars for vessel protection.
Alabi also warned that delays at Nigerian ports are crippling manufacturing activities, noting that cargo meant to arrive within days often takes weeks, forcing some factories to shut down.
Alabi further criticised port health operations for delaying the issuance of Free Pratique, particularly at Lekki and Apapa ports. She called for widened turning basins and increased deployment of mooring personnel to improve efficiency.
Responding, Nigeria Ports Authority security official Ikechukwu Igunna disputed SAN’s figures, stating that Apapa recorded only about 10 stowaway cases in 2025.
Nigeria Immigration Service spokesperson Mr Akinola Akinlabi also challenged the association’s statistics and advised stakeholders to rely on verified data from the International Maritime Bureau.
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