Because of the lack of locally owned vessels that operate in global waters, the sea time training for Nigerian seafarers has been negatively affected. Therefore, Vanguard reports that the Nigerian Federal Government has been charged by maritime experts to put forward policies in order to increase Nigeria’s ship owning capacity.
Specifically, Mfon Ekong Usoro, Secretary General, of the Abuja Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, on Port State Control for West and Central African Region, stated that absence of Nigerian-owned vessels trading at an international scale, has resulted to a decrease of opportunities for Nigerian seafarers to acquire hands-on experience in the industry.
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In addition, the Secretary General reported that this has resulted to poor estimation of the seafarers in Nigeria against their contemporaries, globally, when it comes to international shipping.
Moreover, in a paper that was published in Lagos, called ‘Examining Government Policies for the Development of Nigeria’s Maritime Industry’, Mrs Usoro highlighted that although Nigerian seafarers have the ability to compete with global seafarers, the Government has to make efforts to make it happen.
She continued, addressing that Nigeria’s teaming population is reaching approximately the 190 million. Reportedly, Nigeria has the youngest population in the world. Thus, the country has an advantage if competing with the Philippines in the export of seafarers and maritime labour.
However, the barrier is that Nigerian seafarers are unimportant in international shipping. That’s why the Government should take action.
The Secretary Government focused on the scarcity of training vessels for sea training and urged the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, to invest in ship training as it is being done by their counterparts in South Africa, as reported by Vanguard.
We are aware of the scarcity of berths for sea training. NIMASA could invest in a training ship as SAMSA of South Africa has done.
Finally, Mfon Ekong Usoro supported that the Nigerian Government could pass on a policy on maritime manpower which will demand from every company to employ a minimum number of Nigerian ship board officers and crew onboard.
