NSDP GETS FURTHER BOOST: NIMASA Sends-Forth 665 Cadets For Training

The Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) yesterday sent forth another batch of 655 cadets under the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) bringing the total number of beneficiary-cadets under the scheme to 1, 460.

The apex maritime agency also yesterday, commissioned three patrol vessels, which it christened: NIMASA Amaseikumor, NIMASA Oglakirigha, and NIMASA Oweikenighan, bringing to 11, the number of vessels acquired through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement of the agency for the purpose of combating piracy and sea robbery on the nation's waters.

Speaking at a send forth ceremony for the cadets in Lagos yesterday, President Goodluck Jonathan who was represented at the ceremony by the Minister of Transport, Senttor Idris Umar, said that the cadets are being sent for maritime training in the Philippines, Romania, Egypt, India and the United Kingdom.

According to the Minister, a total of 805 trainees out of the targeted 1, 500 beneficiaries under the first phase are under the full sponsorship of NIMASA.

"The 655 trainees we are sending forth today bring to 1, 460 trainees, the total number of Nigerian youths benefiting from this programme" he said.

He noted that only 15 states are currently participating in the NSDP, even as he urged other states and corporate bodies to take advantage of the scheme because, according to him, the programme is capable of reducing youth restiveness and poverty.

Speaking earlier, the Director General of NIMASA, Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi estimated that with the programme, Nigeria stands to become a hub for the supply of skilled maritime human capital.

According to him, "the pragmatic expectation of the Nigeria maritime industry is that the NSDP holds the future for the development of future Nautical Scientists, Naval Architects, and Marine Engineers who will close capacity in Nigeria ship building chain, ship manning and contemporary elements of ship operations and navigation".

Akpobolokemi assured the cadets of sea time immediately after the completion of their different programmes.

"Entrenched in this programme is the element of sea time training, we are not going to leave the cadets without giving them sea time, therefore this is a full package for the young ones traveling out of Nigeria for the programme" he assured.

According to him, some of the cadets that have so far graduated from the 60-40 funding arrangement which NIMASA had with some state governments on the NSDP in 2008 have graduated and have all been given sea time training.

The NIMASA boss assured that the NSDP is a temporary measure to fill the vacuum of qualified manpower required for the implementation of the Cabotage Act.

According to him, the agency is already taking steps that will on the long run, culminate into transforming the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) in Oron; Akwa Ibom state into a world-class maritime university. He also said that the academy will be affiliated to the World Maritime University in Malmo, Sweden.

Speaking with Shipping Position Daily shortly before the commissioning of the vessels, Akpobolokemi assured that all the boats purchased earlier are all in good shape and still working. He assured that three additional vessels are already on transit to further complement the existing ones.

"All the boats are working, three more are to be commissioned today, these are oceangoing vessels that can sail in different part of American domain to enforce our regulations", he disclosed.

"Three more big boats are on transit, sooner or later they are going to be around, they are same capacity with the ones we are commissioning today, so we are working and the situation is getting better" he said.
The Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme was initiated by NIMASA in 2008 commenced implementation in 2009.