By Joshua Yousouph
Investigations by Shipping Position Daily have revealed that Nigerian seafarers paid between N120,000 and N250,000 to obtain a Seafarers’ Discharge Book, officially priced at about N12,000, exposing a long-running regime of extortion, middlemen interference and alleged racketeering that stakeholders believe will be significantly curtailed by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency’s (NIMASA) newly-launched online application portal.
Industry stakeholders who spoke with our correspondent last week noted that the digital platform is expected to eliminate the activities of middlemen, curb extortion, reduce opportunities for forgery and make the issuance of discharge books more transparent and efficient.
Recall that the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NIMASA) recently launched the Seafarer Discharge Book Management Portal, a digital platform designed to streamline the application, verification, processing and issuance of Seafarers’ Discharge Books.
The portal was unveiled as part of activities marking the 2026 Day of the Seafarer celebration in Lagos. Speaking at the launch, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, described the platform as a significant milestone in the Agency’s digital transformation agenda.
The Director General noted that the fully automated platform significantly reduces processing time, minimizes manual intervention and enhances the security, traceability and authenticity of seafarers’ documentation.
With the introduction of the portal, stakeholders believe the era in which seafarers allegedly paid as much as 20 times the official cost of a discharge book may soon come to an end, while the digitalization of the process is expected to strengthen document integrity and improve confidence in Nigeria’s seafarer certification system.
Speaking on the development, Chairman of the Nigerian Merchant Navy Shipping, Zonal Council, Captain Adetayo Saliu, described the portal as a major breakthrough for Nigerian seafarers, noting that he personally participated in the demonstration of the platform at NIMASA’s headquarters in Lagos.
According to him, the online system would simplify access to discharge books and other seafarer certifications by allowing applicants to complete the process electronically from any location.
“The online portal they created can do a lot of good. I was among those used during the demonstration at NIMASA headquarters in Lagos. If properly implemented, it will greatly benefit Nigerian seafarers. Once everything is uploaded online, a seafarer can easily process the application and obtain the document,” he said.
Captain Saliu, however, disclosed that obtaining a discharge book had become a costly ordeal for many seafarers due to the activities of intermediaries who allegedly exploited applicants.
“There was this issue of hoarding. For a discharge book that officially costs about N12,000, some people were asking for N120,000, N200,000 and even N250,000 from seafarers,” he revealed.
He explained that the situation particularly affected young graduates from maritime institutions and entry-level seafarers seeking opportunities onboard vessels.
“For a beginner coming out of the academy or someone trying to secure employment at sea, such demands were excessive and discouraging,” he added.
The seafarer further recounted how the scale of the problem became evident during the portal demonstration exercise.
“When we went for the demonstration, there was a case involving someone sent from the Director-General’s office to obtain a discharge book. It was discovered that N120,000 had been collected from a seafarer. Many people did not know such practices were going on,” he said.
According to Saliu, the portal introduces greater accountability because discharge book records and serial numbers allocated to various zones are now integrated into a centralized electronic system, making it more difficult for unauthorized persons to manipulate the process.
He stressed that while the initiative is commendable, continuous monitoring would be required to ensure successful implementation.
“One thing is to put a system in place; another thing is to ensure proper follow-up. If implementation is effectively monitored, the portal will deliver the desired results,” he stated.
Also speaking, former President of the Nigerian Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association (NMNOWTSSA), Engr. Matthew Alalade, described the discharge book as one of the most important documents in a seafarer’s professional career. He explained that the document serves as an official record of sea service, documenting a seafarer’s engagement and discharge from vessels.
“The discharge book is your record. Whenever you join a vessel and sign off, it is recorded there. It is an important document recognized internationally and issued under the authority of the Federal Government,” he said.
Alalade acknowledged reports of excessive charges associated with obtaining the document and expressed optimism that the online portal would significantly reduce such practices.
“When the process is done online and payment is made through the system, applicants simply proceed to collect the discharge booklet. This removes many of the third parties that usually collect extra money from applicants,” he noted.
He also confirmed that document forgery had been a challenge within the maritime sector.
“It is very possible to forge a discharge book. Even Certificates of Competency (CoCs) have faced similar challenges in the past. However, with online verification and digital records, forgery becomes much more difficult,” he explained.
According to him, the migration to a digital platform mirrors reforms introduced in the international passport system, where enhanced technology significantly reduced fraudulent practices.
Commenting on the initiative, National President of the Nigerian Association of Master Mariners (NAMM), Captain Tajudeen Alao, described the portal as a welcome technological innovation capable of promoting transparency and reducing unnecessary physical interactions.
“This new portal application initiative is a welcome idea. Technology removes face-to-face interactions, encourages transparency and proper record keeping, and saves time and transportation costs,” he said.
Captain Alao urged seafarers to familiarize themselves with the portal’s requirements and ensure that only authentic documents are submitted during the application process.
“The challenge is for seafarers to improve their understanding of the requirements and be sincere in submitting genuine documents to make the issuance process seamless,” he stated.
He also called on maritime unions, associations and training institutions to sensitize their members on the new process and discourage overpricing by agents and intermediaries.
According to him, expanding the portal’s services to eastern maritime zones would further reduce travel expenses for seafarers who currently journey to Lagos for documentation-related services.
