Nigerian Navy Endorses Campaign to Scrap “Outdated” War Risk Insurance Surcharges

The Nigerian Navy has thrown its weight behind the Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (MARAN) in a renewed push to eliminate war risk insurance premiums imposed on vessels calling at Nigerian ports. Rear Admiral Michael Oamen, Flag Officer Commanding the Western Naval Command, declared the decades-old surcharge “economically unjust and internationally misleading,” noting that Nigeria has recorded zero piracy incidents in nearly four years.

Speaking during MARAN’s courtesy visit in Lagos, Oamen credited the Navy’s strategic patrols, the Falcon Eye surveillance system, and regional partnerships for transforming the Gulf of Guinea into a piracy-free zone. He urged MARAN to rally agencies like NIMASA, the Nigerian Ports Authority, and the Shippers’ Council to engage the International Maritime Organization (IMO), stressing: “This is about correcting the false narrative around Nigerian waters and showcasing our security transformation.”

MARAN President Godfrey Bivbere echoed the urgency, revealing plans to petition Nigeria’s Foreign Minister and spotlight the issue at the 2025 MARAN Annual Maritime Lecture. He emphasized that the surcharge inflates port costs, diverts cargo to neighboring countries, and damages investor confidence, despite the absence of the piracy risks that once justified it. “The world must recognize we’re no longer a hotspot,” Bivbere asserted.

The Navy’s endorsement marks a critical step toward unifying national stakeholders to restore Nigeria’s reputation as a secure shipping hub and demand fair global maritime assessments.

– By oshuniran Sheriff Ola