Some Nigerian Seafarers have criticised the Certificate of Competency (COC) issued by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).They said compared to those issued in other countries, even though it is very difficult to get, its acceptance is limited.
The seafarers under a body called Integrated Seafarers of Nigeria told Shipping Position Daily last week in Lagos that the NIMASA certificate is not tenable in other countries because of a clause; Near Coastal Voyage (NVC) which is printed on the certificate.
Comparing NIMASA certificate to that which is obtained on Ghana, one of the embittered seafarers said that Nigerian seafarers troop to Ghana for their COC because it has no limitation unlike NIMASA which limits the holder of the license to coastal operations.
"Seafarers prefer going to Ghana because Ghana COC is unlimited, but NIMASA COC carries NCV which is a limitation. What they should have done is to get NCV out of their license. They have been correcting it since 2009 without any success"
"Also, NIMASA exam is one of the most difficult in the world, but their licence is one of the most unacceptable" he said
The seafarers alleged that many cadets fail NIMASA exams, only for them to go to the UK and they pass easily.
They also alleged that if a cadet fails any paper in NIMASA exams, he would need one year to rewrite, while in other countries, such a cadet can rewrite within one to three months.
"In Nigeria if you fail two subjects, you will rewrite everything again, but in other countries, you will know the ones you failed and rewrite only what you have failed"
"In Nigeria, the examiner (NIMASA) does not correspond or relate with the lecturer (MAN Oron).
The location of the school is completely not conducive for the COC students, it's either community clashes, or cultists attack"
"The COC student do not stay in the school premises, this is exposing them to a lot of danger.
Government should rather make cadets go through their preparatory class wherever they wish, be it Oceanography, Oron or any of the private institutes. They can now come back to write NIMASA exam after six months
The moment that happens, God knows nobody will go to Oron for COC" they said.
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