A prominent maritime scholar, Dr. Eugene Nweke, has urged the Nigerian Government to establish a Port-Host Community Development Trust Fund.
Dr Nweke noted that globally, competitive ports measure success not only by cargo throughput or revenue, but by the wellbeing and quality of life of their host communities.
Dr. Nweke, who is the Head of Research at the Sea Empowerment & Research Centre (SEREC), made the call at the 2025 Annual Conference of the Congress of Nigerian Maritime Media Practitioners (CONMMEP) held in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.
Speaking on the theme “Empowering Host Communities Through Strategic Partnership,” he explained that modern ports have evolved beyond transit corridors to become complex socio-economic ecosystems deeply interlinked with surrounding communities.
He recommended that Nigeria adopt a model similar to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which created the Host Community Development Trust Fund.
Breaking down the proposal, he outlined a governance structure consisting of 40 percent representation for host communities, 30 percent for port authorities and operators, 20 percent for relevant government agencies, and 10 percent for civil society groups or independent experts.
Citing data from the petroleum sector, Dr. Nweke highlighted that as at October 2025, the Host Community Development Trust established under the PIA had accumulated ₦373 billion and facilitated 536 community projects nationwide.
This, he argued, demonstrates how dedicated funding, statutory transparency, and strong community participation can drive sustainable development.
He further urged terminal operators, shipping lines, and logistics companies to make annual contributions to a statutory fund similar to the Delta Port Fund, stressing that past empowerment efforts have failed because CSR initiatives are often ad hoc, episodic, and insufficiently systemic.
A structured model, he said, would ensure long-term empowerment and accountability.
Dr. Nweke also criticized what he described as double standards among some shipping companies that comply with community-related obligations abroad but fall short in Nigeria.
Regulators, he insisted, must enforce compliance to ensure host communities are not marginalised.
Draft Bill
He revealed that a draft bill addressing port-host community development had previously been forwarded to the National Assembly and expressed optimism that it would soon be revisited to strengthen legal protection and community empowerment.
In his remarks, CONMMEP President, Udo Onyeka, described the conference as more than a forum for discussion, calling it a “call to action” for stakeholders to build synergy, enhance accountability, and align with a shared vision for Nigeria’s maritime future.
The event also featured the presentation of awards to outstanding maritime practitioners and the unveiling of the Eagle Dispatch magazine.