The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has ordered an immediate probe into allegations of marginalisation of indigenous barge operators at the nation’s seaports, signaling a firm response to growing industry tensions.
The directive was issued to the Nigerian Shippers’ Council during the 2026 First Quarter Citizens and Stakeholders Engagement, Sectoral Performance Review and Ministerial Management Retreat held in Lagos.
The intervention followed strong complaints from local barge operators who alleged a coordinated attempt by certain foreign interests to edge them out of the maritime logistics value chain.
According to the operators, the situation reflects a troubling pattern that could erode local capacity and distort competition within the port system if not urgently addressed.
They further claimed that a mix of policy inconsistencies, operational bottlenecks and alleged preferential treatment by some terminal operators is steadily shrinking their market share.
The stakeholders warned that the trend, if unchecked, could threaten the survival of indigenous operators and weaken Nigeria’s push for local content development in the maritime sector.
Responding, Oyetola reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to protecting local investments and ensuring a level playing field for all operators within the industry.
He directed the council to undertake a thorough and impartial investigation, stressing that the findings must guide decisive regulatory action where necessary.
The minister was emphatic that anti competitive practices or policies that undermine Nigerian businesses will not be tolerated under any guise.
He added that sustained stakeholder engagement remains critical to identifying sector challenges, noting that the government is determined to harness the marine and blue economy as a catalyst for economic growth, job creation and long term national development.