NIMASA Drums For Intensive Training For Dockworkers, Seafarers

Mohammed O. Taoheed reports,

Dr Bashir Jamoh, the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has drummed for operators’ collaborative cooperation in giving modern and advanced training to dockworkers.

As noted by the Director-General, the agency values the training of Nigerian seafarers and dockworkers to meet industry demands with emphasis on specialised and advanced training.

Jamoh made this yesterday at the kick-off event of Maritime Labour e-platform at Apapa Port, Lagos State.

In his words, NIMASA being the head maritime regulatory agency in the country has the mandate to register and regulate every dockworker, seafarer, stevedoring, company, seafarer employer, jetty, termin operator and offshore platforms or terminals.

Jamoh, who was represented by the Executive Director, Maritime Labour & Cabotage Services, Victor Onyekachi Ochei said the e-platform for dockworkers will serve as system database registration on maritime labour.

According to him: “It will also serve as a source of statistical data and analytics for national planni6, policymaking, training capacity building and research.

“The Maritime Labour E-platform is in furtherance of the agency’s mandate on the registration and regulation of every dockworker, seafarer, stevedoring company, seafarer employer, jetty, terminal operators and offshore platforms of terminals.

Jamoh said further that “the e-platform was conceived out of the need to establish an independent, robust, integrated information, verification and communication platform that will serve as system database generation on maritime labour. It will also serve as a source C statistical data and analytics for National Planning, Polic Making, Training Capacity Building and Research.”

The NIMASA boss added that he was delighted about the prospect of eliminating the time consuming process of seafarers and employers registratio which is what the e-Platform would provide.

“It is further expected that the E-Platform will promote a seamle registration process that will culminate into the issuance biometric identity cards to seafarers and dockworkers.”

He said that the maritime employers ”can conveniently complete their registration process from comfort of their offices without necessarily visiting the agency’s Office.

“I, therefore, implore our esteemed stakeholders, including seafarer employers, manning agents, terminal operators, dock labour employers, seafarers and dockworkers to ensure that the platform is put into good use while avoiding practices that will expose it to the manipulations of online scammers.

“I wish to reiterate the agency’s commitment towards actualising its mandate as provided in the enabling Act. Our resolve to make life meaningful to 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 Nigeria seafarers to meet industry needs with emphasis on specialised and advanced trainings,” Jamoh said.

Meanwhile, the Executive Director of Maritime Labour & Cabotage, gave that the dock and seafarers’ industry has become an important link in the transport network that requires constant upgrading in order to respond to the demands of international trade

Speaking also, the President of the Maritime Workers’Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Adewale Adeyanju, commended the NIMASA for evolving the electronic registration and identity cards for their members and urged terminal operators to give better welfare package to dockworkers operating in the country.