The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has directed the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to investigate allegations of systemic efforts to undermine local barge operators at the nation’s seaports.

The directive was made through a statement signed by Special Adviser to the Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Bolaji Akinola, on Monday.

In the statement, representatives of barge operators alleged that “there is a coordinated and deliberate attempt by certain foreign interests to edge them out of business.” They warned that “these actions, if left unchecked, could significantly weaken local capacity and disrupt the balance of competition within Nigeria’s maritime logistics chain.”

The operators further expressed concern that “policies, operational bottlenecks, and preferential treatment allegedly being accorded to some foreign-linked entities by certain terminal operators are creating an uneven playing field.” They added that “these challenges are gradually eroding their market share and threatening the survival of indigenous businesses.”

Responding to the concerns, Oyetola reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting local investments and maintaining fair competition in the maritime sector. He directed the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, as the port economic regulator, to “carry out a thorough and impartial investigation into the claims.”

The minister stressed that “any form of anti-competitive behaviour or policy inconsistency that disadvantages Nigerian businesses would not be tolerated.”

He also reiterated the importance of stakeholder engagement as a platform for addressing sector challenges, noting that it helps in “identifying sectoral challenges and shaping responsive policy interventions.”

According to him, the government remains focused on “strengthening the marine and blue economy sector as a driver of national growth, job creation, and sustainable development.”