Research Article
Agugoesi Chukwuemeka, Gbasibo Lawrence A., Nwokedi Theophilus C.
This study examines the influence of maritime safety and security on the transportation of seaborne oil trade in Nigeria. Given Nigeria's heavy dependence on oil exports and imports transported via tanker vessels, the study investigates how safety incidents (tanker accidents) and security challenges (piracy and vandalism) affect the performance of the oil and gas (O&G) maritime sector. A quantitative research design was adopted using 15 years (2006–2020) time-series secondary data sourced from the Nigerian Ports Authority, Department of Petroleum Resources, International Maritime Bureau, and International Tanker Owners' Federation. Analytical techniques included incidence rate modeling and multiple regression analysis. The findings reveal significant levels of maritime incidents, with an average annual tanker accident rate of 41.7, pirate attacks at 10.0, and vandalism incidents at 2307.87. Results indicate that vandalism constitutes the most dominant security threat. Regression analysis shows that maritime safety and security incidents significantly influence the demand for tanker vessels (R² = 0.62), seaborne oil export (R² = 0.55), import trade (R² = 0.71), and crude oil prices (R² = 0.66). While accidents and vandalism negatively affect tanker demand and trade volumes, piracy showed mixed effects. The study concludes that persistent maritime insecurity and safety lapses undermine the efficiency and sustainability of Nigeria's seaborne oil trade. It highlights the need for stronger regulatory enforcement, improved maritime surveillance, and investment in safety infrastructure.
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19608932pp. 1–21
Research Article
Efetobo Ogheneochuko, Nwokedi Theophilus C., Okeke Kenneth O.
The study analyzed the implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code and maritime security governance in Nigeria's Gulf of Guinea (GoG) region. The GoG remains a global hotspot for piracy, kidnapping, illegal oil bunkering, and attacks on offshore installations. The research investigates if the ISPS Code has achieved measurable reductions in maritime insecurity by comparing pre- and post-implementation trends of piracy incidents. The study employs the incidence rate model to evaluate variations in attacks against ships between 2006 and 2020. Findings reveal persistent insecurity, weak institutional capacity, and uneven ISPS compliance across the GoG. Challenges include inadequate infrastructure, poor inter-agency coordination, insufficient training of security personnel and lack of harmonized legal frameworks. Policy recommendations include strengthening legal harmonization among GoG states, improving inter-agency coordination, enhancing surveillance and intelligence-sharing networks, and increasing investments in port security infrastructure and personnel training.
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19609715pp. 22–42
Research Article
Denginmo Lucas R., Nwosu Emmanuel N.
This research analyzes ship-source pollution in the Niger Delta marine environment, a region where intense maritime activity intersects with extreme ecological vulnerability. While environmental degradation in the Delta is often attributed to land-based oil extraction, this study isolates the specific and cumulative impacts of pollutants originating directly from shipping operations such as hydrocarbons, toxic anti-fouling biocides, and garbage which remain critically under-investigated. The study utilizes a qualitative survey design, gathering data from 261 stakeholders in the Nigerian maritime industry, including port authority staff, terminal operators, and shipping companies. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics to rank pollutant types and ship-source contributors, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to compare variations in pollution levels, and a Gap Model to evaluate the perceived effectiveness of MARPOL 73/78 implementation. The study found that oil and chemical tankers (OCT) and fixed and floating production platforms (FFPS) are the dominant ship types contributing to marine pollution in Nigerian waters. The findings reveal that oil spills account for a 38% variation in the mean incomes of local residents, directly impacting livelihoods dependent on fishing and aquaculture. The study concludes that ship-source pollution is an independent and compounding stressor in the Niger Delta.
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19609263pp. 43–58
