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· Prioritises Training Of Nigerian Seafarers
· Development Will Aid Dockworkers Welfare, Says MWUN
In a bid to enhance the efficiency of the maritime workforce, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has launched an electronic registration platform for maritime workers and issuance of biometric identity cards to dockworkers.
Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, described the e-platform as a major step towards attaining full automation of its processes, adding that it was initiated due to the need to establish an independent, robust, integrated information, verification and communication platform that would serve as a system database generation on maritime labour in the country.
Jamoh, who was represented by the agency’s Executive Director of Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Victor Ochei, stated that the development of automation processes would benefit the industry in terms of time-saving thereby improving service delivery, as well as building the capacity of the maritime labour workforce.
“I am particularly delighted about the prospect of eliminating the time-consuming process of seafarers and employers registration, which is what the e-platform will provide. It is further expected that the e-platform will promote a seamless registration process that will culminate in the issuance of biometric identity cards to seafarers and dockworkers,” he stated.
Jamoh restated the agency’s commitment to building the capacity of Nigerian seafarers and dockworkers to improve the standing of the country’s maritime sector among maritime nations.
He said: “I wish to restate NIMASA’s commitment towards actualising its mandate as provided in the enabling Act. Our resolve to make life meaningful for the entire maritime labour remains firm and we intend to achieve this through sustainable efforts in capacity building and improved welfare.
“The agency is also prioritising the training of Nigerian seafarers to meet industry needs with an emphasis on specialised and advanced training.”
President General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, expressed delight with NIMASA’s automation of maritime labour registration processes stating that the agency had proven that it was committed to improving standards in the Nigerian maritime sector, especially in terms of labour practices and capacity development.
Representatives of major maritime stakeholders including the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and Commissioner of Police (CP) at Apapa Port, among others, attended the event.
