Maritime Security Threats and Sustainable Maritime Operations in Nigeria

The study examined the effect of maritime security threats on sustainable maritime operations in Nigeria. The independent variable’s (Maritime security threats) dimensions comprised piracy, drugs/human trafficking and armed robbery at sea. The dependent variable (sustainable maritime operations) was measured with economic operations, social operations and environmental operations. The theories that underpinned the study included policy implementation theory and the theory of relative state autonomy: Cross-sectional survey research design was used for the study. Primary and secondary sources of data were used as the main data collection methods. Relevant primary data for this study were collected through structured questionnaire. The population of this study comprised the Nigerian ports, NIMASA, National Inland Water Authority and Nigerian Shippers Council (four-4 organisations). The study actually sampled 72 (i.e.,18 x 4) respondents and validly used 68 respondents (representing 94.44% response rate) for the study analysis. The reliability of the research instrument was validated with Cronbach Alpha threshold at 0 .70. The study used descriptive and inferential statistical tools to analyse the data. Specifically, multiple regression analysis of ordinary least square estimation was used to achieve the research objectives and test the hypotheses with the aid of SPSS 25.0. The study revealed that maritime sector organizations witness violent attacks on ships at sea, including theft, detention, and other unlawful acts committed by private individuals for private gain and that there is the plundering, hijacking, or detention of ships in international waters and these have evolved over the centuries but remains a challenge to international law. The study revealed that human traffickers recruit, transport, and exploit their victims via commercial shipping, fishing vessels, cruise lines, and private yachts—from ships at sea to coastal and inland ports and that maritime sector organizations are aware that drug trafficking is a global illicit trade involving the cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of substances which are subject to drug prohibition laws. The study revealed that armed robbery incidents underscore the need for enhanced security measures, surveillance systems, and coordinated responses to apprehend these maritime predators. The study concluded that: Piracy has negative and significant effect of on economic operations (t = -3.57); social operations (t = -2.11) and environmental operations (t = -2.12). ii. Drug/human trafficking has negative and significant effect on economic operations (t= -2.62); social operations (t= -3.27) and environmental operations (t= -2.19). iii. Armed robbery at sea has negative and significant effect on economic operations (t= -3.18); social operations (t= -2.97) and negative but insignificant effect on environmental operations (t= -0.29).