NIMASA and Mission to Seafarers Pledge Deeper Cooperation to Uplift Seafarers’ Welfare in Nigeria

NIMASA and Mission to Seafarers Pledge Deeper Cooperation to Uplift Seafarers’ Welfare in Nigeria
By Our Correspondent

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency has restated its commitment to improving the living and working conditions of Nigerian seafarers through sustained collaboration with international and local welfare organisations. This was the focus of a recent courtesy visit by the leadership of the Mission to Seafarers to the Agency’s headquarters in Lagos.

Leading the delegation were the Chairman of the Management Committee of Mission to Seafarers Lagos, Chief Adebayo Sarumi, OON, and the Regional Director for Africa, Reverend Cedric Rautenbach. They were received by senior management of NIMASA led by the Executive Director, Operations, Engr. Fatai Taiye Adeyemi, who represented the Director General, Dr. Dayo Mobereola. Also present was the Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Mr. Jibril Abba.

In his remarks, Engr. Adeyemi said that the Agency views the welfare of seafarers as central to the growth and competitiveness of Nigeria’s maritime sector. He noted that beyond safety and regulation, seafarers deserve dignity, access to decent work, and support systems both while at sea and when they berth in Nigerian ports.

He explained that NIMASA is currently deepening reforms around seafarer certification, structured training programmes, and the enforcement of standards that align with the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006. According to him, these reforms are designed to ensure that Nigerian seafarers remain employable globally and are treated fairly by ship owners and operators. He added that the Agency will continue to work closely with partners such as the Mission to Seafarers to close existing gaps in welfare delivery.

Chief Adebayo Sarumi, while speaking on behalf of the Mission to Seafarers, commended NIMASA for its openness to collaboration and for the ongoing reforms in the maritime industry. He said the Mission to Seafarers has for many years provided pastoral care, welfare services, and practical support to seafarers across the world, irrespective of nationality, race or religion. He noted that the organisation’s presence in Lagos has helped to address issues of isolation, mental health, and basic needs for visiting seafarers.

Sarumi expressed optimism that a stronger working relationship with NIMASA will expand the reach of welfare services in Nigeria and ensure that seafarers calling at Nigerian ports have access to better support.

Also speaking, Reverend Cedric Rautenbach highlighted the difference and complementarity between the work of the Mission to Seafarers and that of the Port Welfare Committee. He stated that while both institutions share the goal of improving seafarers’ wellbeing, they operate under different mandates that can be harmonized for greater impact. He stressed that collaboration among government agencies, welfare bodies, and industry players is critical to building a robust support system for seafarers in Africa’s largest maritime economy.

The discussions during the visit touched on several areas including the provision of decent accommodation and recreational facilities for seafarers, access to medical care, communication services, and the need to strengthen awareness of seafarers’ rights under international conventions.

NIMASA has in recent years intensified its engagement with stakeholders to ensure that the provisions of the MLC 2006 are fully domesticated and enforced in Nigeria. The Agency has also been working to improve the certification process for seafarers, promote capacity building, and ensure that ship owners comply with labour and welfare standards.

Both NIMASA and the Mission to Seafarers agreed that partnership is key to addressing the challenges faced by seafarers, especially in the areas of welfare, safety, and professional development. They pledged to establish more structured channels of communication and joint initiatives that will directly benefit seafarers operating within Nigerian waters.

The visit ended with a call for all maritime stakeholders to prioritise the human element in shipping. Officials noted that a healthy, well-trained, and well-supported seafaring workforce is essential to the sustainability of the blue economy and to Nigeria’s ambition of becoming a leading maritime nation.

In the group photograph taken after the meeting were, from left: Chairman, Management Committee of Mission to Seafarers Lagos, Chief Adebayo Sarumi, OON; Regional Director, Mission to Seafarers Africa, Reverend Cedric Rautenbach; Executive Director, Operations, NIMASA, Engr. Fatai Adeyemi; and Executive Director, Maritime Labour & Cabotage Services, NIMASA, Mr. Jibril Abba.