The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has lamented the poor working condition of seafarers and dockworkers in the nation's shipping sector.
The apex regulatory agency also underscored the for adequate wellbeing and welfare packages for Nigerian dockworkers, stevedoring workers and the seafarers at the nation’s ports.
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has lamented the poor working condition of seafarers and dockworkers in the nation's shipping sector.
The apex regulatory agency also underscored the for adequate wellbeing and welfare packages for Nigerian dockworkers, stevedoring workers and the seafarers at the nation’s ports.
Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services at NIMASA; Callistus Obi made this observation at a one day conference on “Review of the the Port Concession Agreement” which held in Lagos last week.
Obi who represented the Acting Director-General of NIMASA at the conference noted that he was very particular about the issue of rights and obligations of the seafarers, dockworkers and stevedoring workers as contained in the concession agreement.
He said in the operation of the labour component of the statutory mandate of NIMASA, there had been series of complains particularly as it relate to the welfare and well being of dockworkers and the seafarers.
According to him, the labour workers in the nation's shipping sector are not properly taken care off.
"The human element of shipping for me is critical. "
"It is critical because you can never succeed without enhanced capacity for those who man our ships."
" We have had severally to complain about how our dockworkers are treated, the working environment, that for us is key."
“I will want to take advantage of this conference to ask pertinent question as to who has the right, whose obligation is it to protect the welfare and wellbeing of the Nigerian dockworkers, the seafarers and all those who earn their living within the ports, jetties and terminals."
“For us, it is a contentious issue and I want to believe that this conference will give us the opportunity to address this issue very squarely”.
Speaking on the port access roads, the Executive Director stressed that there was no need to over-emphasize the difficulties faced by the stakeholders daily in an attempt to access the ports, adding that NIMASA as an organisation has suffered more than any other agency as a result of the poor state of the roads leading to Apapa.
“This conference will also address that because we know that very precious hours, man hours, quality time spent on the roads when as a matter of fact, that time wasted if very well utilized in our various jobs and schedules could impact positively in the sector and I don’t need to tell you how many terrible incidences that has led to loss of lives that happen on that roads.
"It is not good enough for us, it is not good enough for our country, it is not good enough for the industry and it is not good enough for the image of nation."
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