NAN-H-30
Seafarers
By Aisha Cole
Lagos, May 6, 2017 (NAN) The President, Nigerian Chamber of Shipping (NCS), Mr Andy Isichei, says lack of sea time training of Nigerian seafarers is a major challenge to the maritime industry.
Isichei made the observation on Saturday in Lagos at the inauguration of the Governing Council of the chamber.
According to him, NIMASA has trained 2,400 seafarers abroad but majority of these young men are at home because they do not have sea time experience.
He said that the chamber would do its best to enable the seafarers obtain Certificate of Competency after sea time experience.
The President said, “Nigeria does not have vessels to take the seafarers on the mandatory one-year sea time training after graduation’’.
Isichei, however, said the chamber would collaborate with stakeholders within and outside Nigeria to make sea time training a reality.
“We will collaborate and engage government agencies like the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to stem the tide of retrogression in on-board sea time cadet training.
“The lack of sea time training has resulted in dearth of jobs for our seafarers.
“Remittances from overseas by employed and qualified Nigerian seafarers alone will boost the economy,’’ the President said.
He said that the chamber under his watch, would work closely with heads of maritime agencies and critical stakeholders within and outside the industry to ensure sea time training for seafarers.
Isichei, however, explained that the huge amount spent by NIMASA to train seafarers outside the country could be channelled to other areas if the nation had training vessels.
The NCS boss also said that the Cabotage Act 2004 was enacted as a major tool not only to improve the maritime industry, but a major employment-generating opportunity.
“Due to lack of implementation of the Act, the country could not enjoy its full benefits,’ Isichei said.
He expressed concern that lack of implementation of key policies to drive the maritime industry was also another major problem.
According to him, the chamber is presently talking with some institutions overseas to collaborate with it to help address some of the identified challenges in the maritime sector.
“Most freight businesses in the country are presently being handled by foreign-owned shipping companies and their vessels.
“Out of 90 tank farms we have in the country, over 80 per cent are owned by foreigners.
“ If government puts its foot down to say that if the foreign shipping companies must do business in Nigeria, they must engage our seafarers, then we would be getting some of these things right,’’ he said.
Chief Adebayo Sarumi, a former Managing Director of NPA and the Immediate Past President of the chamber, congratulated Isichei and members of the newly-inaugurated governing council.
Sarumi implored the council members to champion the cause of practitioners in the industry.
He also commended the pioneering effort of Mr Olisa Agbakoba, who nurtured the chamber as a voice to be reckoned with in the industry.
Mrs Vicky Haastrup; Chairman, Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN); a former President, Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Olisa Agbakoba; the Managing Director of NPA, Ms Hadiza Usman; and the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Mr Hassan Bello, were among dignitaries at the event. (NAN)
AIC/MEMO
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Edited by Mike Mbonye