As the World celebrates the 2024 World Maritime Day (WMD), the Pioneer Chairman of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) board, Alhaji Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan has called on the Nigerian Government to commit to continuous review of all capacity development programmes of seafarers of both officers and rating cadre.
According to Ramalan, who is currently the Trustee of National Seafarers Welfare Board, the review is necessary to ensure that seafarers can operate technologically-advanced and environmentally-compliant vessels for competitive globalised employment as well as value for the country’s investment in seafaring.
Ramalan gave this advice in a statement issued on Tuesday ahead of the 2024 World Maritime Day which comes up globally on Thursday.
He further requested the Federal Government to address the non-availability of sea time, even as he harped on provision of quality seafarers’ welfare and working conditions.
In his words: “The Federal Government should be committed to ensuring that cadets proceed to acquire sea time training from institutions that deliver the training programme directly”.
He added that the National Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) to which the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency commits huge investments, should be streamlined to engage directly with the local and international maritime institutions that are accredited and recognised in line with the national and international standards.
The former NIMASA board Chairman added that the current figure of more than 10,000 registered seafarers in Nigeria is not enough to contribute to the global supply, noting that the world is presently in short supply of qualified seafarers’ mostly of officers’ cadre.
He equally observed that the rapid rise in digital technology and automated carbon emission compliance vessels, means that one of the world’s oldest professions is on the path to change.
According to him, recognising that seafarers have remained an essential part of the global sustainability chain, Nigeria should continue to play its part in contributing to the value chain through partnerships with reputable organisations that sustain and support the seafarers’ capacity development, their living and working conditions”.
In conclusion, he noted that the theme for the 2024 World Maritime Day Celebration: “Navigating the Future: Safety First” was apt, because it provides an avenue for extensive discussion on the roles, importance and contributions of seafarers to the global maritime industry.
