Secretary General , Nigerian Merchant Navy Directorate; Captain Alfred Oniye has lamented that the current generation of seafarers are having it rough, even though Nigeria is celebrating her 58 years of independence.
He specifically lamented that about 80 per cent of the nation’s trained seafarers are unemployed.
Capt Oniye, said this while fielding questions as guest on our sister programme; Shipping Position Live on Star FM on Monday.
He also called on the federal government to provide a conducive atmosphere for investors in the maritime sector so as to create employment and offer seatime to thousands of young seafarers and cadets who are currently unengaged.
The seafarer, who spoke against the backdrop of serial pirate attacks on Nigerian waters affecting her seafarers and the high rate of joblessness that is the lot of Nigerian seafarers, also added that there is need for urgent attention to be given to security of seafarers going by the high level of insecurity on the nation's waterways.
Oniye reiterated that the level of unemployment of seafarers have skyrocketed from 50 per cent it was last year to about 80 per cent this year.
“I am a professional and I am going to say it exactly the way it is. Seafarers presently in Nigeria are not enjoying anything. We should be looking at the bad working conditions, no salary for months; security at the zero level. So far this year, 39 seafarers were kidnapped and they have gotten to over 52. Unemployment last year was at 50 per cent, but now it is over 80 per cent this year"
He also called for urgent attention to be given to the welfare of seafarers, adding that more than 100 seafarers are currently in different prisons in the country for crimes they know nothing about.
"Over 100 seafarers are in prison for crimes committed by ship owners. Are we going to say that we are increasing or progressing in the maritime industry, we are not, go to ports, jetties, come on board and you will see what is happening there", he lamented further.
Comparing the plight of seafarers in the early years of Nigeria’s independence to what it looks like today, he noted that seafarers were treated better than what they get today.
"In the 1960s and even 1980s, seafarers had a very good life, most of them were trained by the Federal Government and we call them ‘Government Boys’. They were trained and that was when we had the Nigerian National Shipping Line being sponsored by the federation government and they (seafarers) really enjoying", he stated.
Oniye advised that to ensure employment for seafarers, there is need for a national carrier and a good environment for investors in the sector.
"Since the Nigerian National Shipping Line died, things had gone worst; in a country where you don't have a national carrier how do you expect things to work”
“Let the Nigerian government encourage investors; let them create a conducive environment for business to thrive in the industry”, he argued.
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