The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, has been in the news for several reasons as the agency struggles to implements its regulatory mandate as the Designated Authority in Nigeria by the International Maritime Organization, IMO.

From Port State Control to Flag state implementation, NIMASA’s role in Cabotage enforcement seems severely challenged and encumbered by political interplay arising from vested interests by those charged to ensure success of the regime.

Regrettably, ship owners and shipping companies Local and foreign have either vowed to be at logger heads or aligning their interests is at variance with national economic roadmap.

At the 2024 celebration of Seafarers’ Day, NIMASA was at the centre of the event and rightly so in accordance with its mandate.

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, reaffirmed that Seafarers are the lifeblood of the maritime industry, which is essential to the success of the Blue Economy just as the Director General NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, opined that Nigeria has the potential to be a maritime powerhouse if the right policies are enacted and implemented accordingly.

His Excellency, Adegboyega Oyetola, Minister, Marine and Blue Economy

From 2010, when the International Maritime Organization (IMO), designated 25 June as the International Day of the Seafarer as a way to recognize and show appreciation to those who work on board ships for the odds they brace to transport essential goods across oceans to our homes and offices, Nigeria has actively participated in the global event reinforcing her position as a potential maritime state.

IMO sources disclosed that the Day of the Seafarer was established in a resolution adopted by the 2010 Diplomatic Conference in Manila to adopt the revised STCW Convention.

According to IMO officials “The purpose is to recognize the unique contribution made by seafarers from all over the world to international seaborne trade, the world economy and civil society as a whole”.

The resolution encourages Governments, shipping organizations, companies, shipowners and all other parties concerned to duly and appropriately promote the Day of the Seafarer (June 25 every year) and take action to celebrate it meaningfully”

Interestingly, NIMASA in 2008 initiated the Nigerian Seafarers Development Program,NSDP with the sole mandate of training Nigerian youths to become seafarers and Naval Architects in fulfilling one of its core mandates in the area of Maritime Capacity Building.

L-R Executive Director Operations, NIMASA, Engr Fatai Adeyemi; Executive Director, Maritime Labour, and Cabotage Services, NIMASA, Mr. Jibril Abba; Director General NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Moberola; Director, Maritime Safety and Security, Ministry of Blue Economy, Bombatata Babatunde; Chairman Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Sen. Wasiu Sanni Eshilokun, and Executive Director, Finance and Administration, NIMASA, Mr. Chudi Offodile during the 2024 Day of the Seafarer Celebration in Lagos

Mr. Edward Osagie, the image maker of NIMASA, disclosed in a press statement in December 2022 “From inception in 2008 to 2020, the NSDP programme has enrolled 2,041 students, while 892 are now licensed deck and engine officers including Naval Architects, the rest are in their final stage of the programme”

Following the successes recorded under the NSDP, another set of 435 Cadet were recruited and sent forth in a grand ceremony by the then Minister of Transportation Muazu Jaji Sambo in 2022.

“The flag off of the 3rd phase of NSDP Christened NSDP-TERRA 11 marks another milestone in the development of manpower in line with the Federal Government’s policy on youth empowerment” NIMASA said in a statement.

While the cost implication of the NSDP from inception to date in undisclosed, the opportunity it has provided for Nigerian youths to launch careers in seafaring is seen by stakeholders as laudable.

Will the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola continue with the program and improve where lapses have been identified?

If submissions and declarations made during the 2024 Day of the Seafarer are insights into what to expect, Seafarers could look forward to betters days.

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, identified Seafarers as the lifeblood of the maritime industry, which is essential to the success of the Blue Economy.

“Their resilience, dedication, and unwavering commitment ensure that goods and resources reach every corner of our planet, supporting livelihoods and promoting international trade” the minister said.

Dr. Dayo Mobereola also declare “We recognize the humongous challenges Seafarers face while sailing; ranging from piracy, kidnapping, encounter at war zones, exposure to health risks and unfair treatment. Notwithstanding all these, Nigeria has recorded zero piracy incidents in the last two years; we will not rest on our oars as the life of every seafarer matters”

PEBEC

The announcement by Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Special Adviser to the President on the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, PEBEC, declaring NIMASA and  Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy  as  the best Agency of Government in exemplary teamwork, quality service delivery and consistency has activated heated debates among stakeholders  even as PEBEC declared the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy as the overall Best performing Ministry in the country.

For the Nigerian Seafarer, so much done, so much more needs to be done for the Blue Economy intonation to actualize and contribute meaningfully to national Gross Domestic Product, GDP.

The Nigerian seafarer is not an endangered specie yet; vessels and cargo availability are issues which directly impact seafarers globally.

Matching words with action by looking inwards instead of looking up to foreigners to fill yawning gaps could stimulate and revitalize interests in shipping among the young people of Nigeria.