Understanding the Impact of Strategic Change Management on the Maritime Crude Oil Transportation Industry in Nigeria

Maritime transportation plays a strategically crucial role in the diversification of the Nigerian economy due to its trade (exports and imports) facilitation role in enhancing value chain competitiveness. Thus, this article investigates the role of strategic change management (SCM) on the Nigerian Maritime Crude Oil Transportation Industry (MCOTI) within the context of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Furthermore, the study finds that both managers and end users think a “radical change” rather than a “gradual change” is needed in the MCOTI in Nigeria. However, both managers and end users gave significantly different reasons for a radical change in the industry. For example, most managers argued that government intervention through deregulation, increased investment in technology, and trade facilitation infrastructural development are critical for the survival, restructuring, repositioning, expansion, and growth of the industry (in terms of ship registry and number of cabotage vessels in Nigerian coastal waters), whereas end users focused on product pricing and availability as well as increased opportunities for the vulnerable and economically disadvantaged