The head of Research at the Social and Economic Research Centre, SEREC, Forwarder Eugene Nweke Rff, has highlighted many challenges facing the Nigeria's host communities, which include, high youth unemployment despite close proximity to maritime job clusters, poor representation in port decision-making processes, limited participation of local MSMEs in port-related procurement, amongst others, warned that ports cannot remain globally competitive while host communities remain impoverished.
According to Dr. Nwoke, these conditions create tension, mistrust and a sense of exclusion, which also weakens Nigeria's maritime competitiveness.
Delivering his keynote address at the workshop organized by the Congress Of Nigeria Maritime Media Practitioners(CONMMEP), Themed " Empowering Host Communities Through Strategic Partnership", recently at Rock view Hotel, Apapa, Lagos, Dr. Nweke called for stronger, institutionalised partnerships to empower host communities and ensure sustainable port development across the country.
In his words,"Around the world, port economies have evolved from mere transit hubs into integrated socio-economic ecosystems. Today leading ports judge their success not only by cargo throughput or revenue generation, but by the quality of life of their host communities, the inclusive of opportunities created, and the strength of their port-city partnership".
He noted that despite decades of maritime activities, many Nigeria's port communities in Lagos, Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Delta states remain marginalised and disconnected from the wealth generated by port around them. Global port system such as Rotterdam and Antwerp have succeeded by adopting structured port–community partnerships that prioritise shared governance, dedicated community funds and transparent impact evaluation.
Forwarder Nweke also stated that the workshop demonstrates how private operators can create direct empowerment pipelines like Institutionalized governance, Dedicated community funds and Transparent evaluation of local impacts.
Drawing from Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry Act Host Community Development Trust model, Nweke proposed the establishment of a Port–Host Community Development Trust to institutionalized empowerment in the maritime sector.
He recommended shared governance involving community representatives, port authorities, government agencies, and civil society, alongside dedicated financing framework, skills-to-jobs pipeline, internships, certification, job interviews and transparent public reporting.
Nweke called on the media to serve as watchdogs by tracking commitments, reporting environmental impacts, and amplifying community voices, noting that accountability improves when promises and progress are consistently monitored.
"Today, I call on the media, Port authorities, operators, coastal state governments and development partners, let us institutionalize strategic partnership as the cornerstone of Nigeria's maritime transformation",
Earlier in his remarks, President of CONMMEP, Charles UdoChukwu Onyeka, said the workshop was aimed at promoting inclusive maritime development through collaboration and media advocacy.
Onyeka highlighted CONMMEP’s role in amplifying maritime stakeholders’ voices and called for greater support from partners, including sponsorship, a dedicated secretariat, government agencies and enabling resources to strengthen the organisation’s advocacy work.
Eagle Dispatch Magazine, a quarterly designed publication from CONMMEP was also presented to the public at the workshop.
The workshop was attended by traditional rulers, government officials from maritime-related agencies, industry leaders, media practitioners, and representatives of host communities.
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