Stakeholders in the maritime sector have said that the vulnerability of Africa’s maritime infrastructure to cyber-attacks is due to the widespread use of outdated technology and inadequate policies.
These experts added that this challenge was threatening the continent’s economic stability and national security.
The Anti-piracy Security Head at Trident Group America Inc., Prof Alfred Oniye, disclosed in an academic paper titled, ‘The Imminent Threat of Maritime Cyber Attacks in Africa: A Call for Urgent Action’.
According to the don, as the maritime sector increasingly relies on digital technologies, cybercriminals have found new opportunities to exploit vulnerabilities in port operations and vessel navigation systems.
He noted that the threat of cyber-attacks on Africa’s maritime infrastructure was compounded by outdated technologies in many ports and vessels, “which are often ill-equipped to defend against modern cyber threats, leaving them vulnerable to cybercriminals”.
Oniye, while referencing a report by the Institute for Security Studies, which underscored those growing vulnerabilities, highlighted the reliance on legacy systems that were no longer capable of safeguarding operations from cyber intrusions.
He noted that those weaknesses made the continent’s ports and shipping routes attractive targets for cybercriminals, disrupting trade, causing economic losses, and compromising national security.
He pointed to several recent cyber-related disruptions in regions like the Red Sea and Western Indian Ocean, which had impacted shipping routes and caused significant economic losses.
According to Oniye, the Gulf of Guinea, notorious for piracy, is increasingly at risk of cyber operations that could facilitate physical attacks on vessels.
“Many African ports use legacy systems that are not designed to withstand modern cyber threats. There is a general lack of awareness about cyber threats among maritime stakeholders; also, maritime personnel often lack the necessary training to identify and respond to cyber threats, while existing maritime security policies do not adequately address cyber security,” he stated.
Oniye said as the threat of maritime cyber-attacks in Africa grows, immediate action was required to protect the continent’s maritime infrastructure from those threats.
He said by modernising technology, increasing awareness, enhancing training, developing policies, and promoting international collaboration, Africa could mitigate the risks and ensure the security of its maritime operations.
Meanwhile, at a recent event in Lagos, Pius Akuta, the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, stated that the global shift toward e-commerce and digital trade presented an opportunity for the NSC to enhance its digital capabilities and lead the way in automating port operations, customs processes, and supply chain management.
He explained that by adopting emerging technologies, such as blockchain, the Internet of Things, and others, the NSC could facilitate faster, more transparent, and cost-efficient trade.
Akuta emphasised that further investment in digital technologies should be prioritised to modernise operations, reduce inefficiencies, and improve transparency within the shipping and logistics sectors.
The NSC boss also shared his vision for the NSC, which included driving further digitalisation within the maritime industry to ensure Nigeria remains competitive in the global digital trade arena.
Akuta affirmed that the NSC was committed to advancing technology adoption, making the sector more attractive for investment, and supporting the broader national economic growth agenda.
