The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has reviewed some portions of the Cabotage Act. Disclosing the review over the weekend, it said that it would no longer consider applications from manning agents seeking to employ foreigners as 2nd ship engineers, Stewards, 2nd ship mates, 2nd officers, able seamen and ratings.
NIMASA in a statement signed by its spokesman, Isichei Osamgbi quoted the Director General of the agency; Dakuku Peterside, saying that the action is in continuation of the agency’s quest to ensure full implementation of the Cabotage Act, 2003 for the benefits of Nigerians.
The NIMASA DG also pointed out that special applications for Captains, Chief Engineers, Chief Officers, First Mate in the absence of qualified Nigerians shall be considered on merit, but on the condition that such organization will make a plan to train a Nigerian and put in place a transition plan to ensure that the Nigerian takes over the job within one year.
He said that the move is in line with the agency's newly introduced NIMASA Cabotage Compliance Strategy (NCCS) towards the actualization of a successful coastal and inland trade regime.
Speaking with newsmen recently, he said that the agency came up with NCCS in order to secure jobs for qualified Nigerians in the maritime sector.
"The NIMASA DG stated further that with the NCCS regime, the Agency shall no longer consider applications for grant of waiver on manning for prescribed categories of officers in vessels engaged in Cabotage trade"
“The era of foreigners taking over jobs that Nigerians are qualified for in the maritime sector is over. The NCCS will point a new direction to our Cabotage regime as the Agency will no longer consider application for grant of waiver on manning requirements for vessels engaged in coastal trade with regards to 2nd officer, 2ndengineer, 2nd mate down to able seamen, ratings and stewards”, he declared.
He said that the whole essence of this was to ensure that Nigerians are not deprived of the jobs due them on showing requisite qualifications for the job.
Dr. Peterside used the opportunity to assure stakeholders that the NIMASA will continue to work closely with them, adding that NIMASA will continue to support and promote indigenous participation in the Nigerian maritime sector.
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