MWUN PG, Bunu celebrates seafarers, warns against using them as victims of geographical conflict, 

The President -General of the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Francis Bunu Abi, on Thursday, celebrated Nigerian seafarers on thr occasion of the year 2026 Day if the Seafarers

In a release by Comrade John Kennedy Ikemefuna,, Head of Media, MWUN, the union leader stated that Mariners must not be victims or pawns of geographical conflict.

The theme for this year’s celebration is “Carrying World Trade. Carrying The Risks” identifies with the heightened geopolitical tensions,  including the evolving situation in the Strait of Hormuz, the Black Sea and, the Sea of Asov and the Red Sea region, which have caused great tension and increasing complexity; given the risks Seafarers undertake and endure everyday.

Therefore, it’s no gainsaying that each year of the Seafarers Day, provides an opportunity to recognize the essential roles of Seafarers in global trade and the risks there in, which Seafarers bear sustaining it.

It’s therefore very necessary to put into serious consideration the plight and challenges Seafarers faces navigating through regions affected by conflict and insecurity. This includes the risks they take as well as the resilience they showcase in moving world trade under difficult situations.

In view of this very dangerous circumstances, which Seafarers face in course of their job on the sea, the theme of this year 2026  serves as a reminder that Seafarers must not become collateral victims of geopolitical conflicts.

Comrade Bunu, an astute Seafarer, a Maritime Expert and Labour Activist in this year’s event thanked the Nigerian Seafarers and across the globe for their resilience, discipline, commitment and loyalty in the face of hardship and uncertainty that has engulfed international seas across the globe.

The Ijaw born fierce labour icon expressed his worries over the state of the Maritime Academy, Oron, where graduates are turned out yearly with no adequate certifications to compete favourably with their counterparts across the West Africa sub-region and beyond, hence, getting employment becomes cumbersome; hence, very many of them are roaming all over the place without job. A situation which calls for a very serious concern.

The PG of the Union also noted with dismay the non availability of national carriers just like back in the days when Nigeria had the defunct Nigeria National Shipping Line (NNSL), which of course was the pride of Nigerian Seafarers. Hitherto, various governments have come and gone, the situation of the country’s shipping line had remained the same; and it is not a good development for a country like Nigeria considering our Maritime potential.

Com Bunu, however, called on the federal government and the minister of marine and blue economy to use his good office to bring back the good of the past  days, where Nigerian Seafarers had  indigenous shipping line hoisted with Nigeria’s flag (NNSL), which was no doubt the pride of the Nigerian Seafarers and the country.

He also thanked the practitioners of the Maritime Industry, saying that they have contributed immensely to the development of the sector in recent times and have also partnered sincerely with the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria, while wishing the country a happy day of the Seafarers 2026 believing also that the country Maritime sector will take its rightful position in the comity of nations across the world.