Preliminary Review of Ballast Water Legal Framework and Processes in Nigeria

Ballast water provides stability to ships. These ballast water harbours several invasive organisms which are usually abundant and have the potentials to displace indigenous species and cause deleterious effects on Port infrastructures and the environment. These invasive species are present in Ballast water, Sediment and biofilms of ships. Prior to the promulgation of the Nigerian Merchant Shipping (Ballast Water Management) Regulations, 2012, there were no Ballast water guidelines in Nigeria. Ships from various Ports of call discharge ballast water without any form of restrain from regulatory agencies. In order to improve Nigeria's commitment to Ballast water management, the Nigerian Merchant Shipping (Ballast Water Management) Regulations, 2012 needs to be strengthened. Key areas requiring some improvements is the Ballast water performance standard (D-2) i.e. Part III of the Merchant Shipping (Ballast Water Management) Regulations, 2012. The Ballast water performance standard (D-2) should include physicochemical parameters (pH, Temperature, Nutrients, Heavy metals, Organics and Radioactive substances); Biofilms (as part of the habitats of invasive species) and toxicity test organisms (spanning across various trophic levels).Relevant agencies in Nigeria saddled with the responsibility of regulating shipping operations (Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Nigerian Port Authority) and environmental management (Federal Ministry of Environment, Department of Petroleum Resources and National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency) can develop a Ballast Water Monitoring Programme, geared at providing compliance standards for ballast water discharges in Nigeria.