shippingposition
  • Home
  • News
  • Editorial
    • Vox Pop
  • Maritime safety
  • Oil and Gas
  • Personality
  • Health
No Result
View All Result
shippingposition

Home » Amidst Allegation of Fake Certificates in Circulation, NIMASA CoC Verification Portal Breaks down

Amidst Allegation of Fake Certificates in Circulation, NIMASA CoC Verification Portal Breaks down

by Joshua
May 16, 2022
in Featured, News

Oluyinka Onigbinde

Amidst allegations of fake Certificates of Competency (CoC) in circulation among seafarers in the country, the portal for the verification of the seafarers’ certificates under the purview of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has broken down, this is even as seafarers have lamented that the portal no longer functions.

NIMASA HOUSE

Scores of apprehensive seafarers who spoke to our correspondent lamented that the development has caused them untold hardship. They also cried out that, it is hampering the possibility of job placement on ships. They claimed that, since the portal stopped functioning, it has been impossible to verify their Certificates of Competence through the online portal created for that purpose.

Recall that the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) had raised alarm over the influx of fraudulent certificates in circulation. The IMO in 2011, had said there were 12,635 cases of certificate forgery.

Shipping Position Daily also recalled that The Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh during a seafarer parley in 2020 had expressed shock over the influx of the fake CoCs, he had said then that about 475 fake CoC were in circulation among Nigerian seafarers, while stating that the agency was working to curtail the ugly trend.

Checks by our correspondent on the website last week indicated that the website no longer functions and as such leaving prospective employers of seafarers clueless over the genuineness of their certificates.

Reacting to the breakdown of the portal a former President of the Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association (NMNOWTSSA), Engr. Matthew Alalade , described the situation as ugly, while urging NIMASA to improve and brace up on how they project the image of the country, he noted that the verification portal should be active always.

According to him, “NIMASA should improve on the kind of image they project Nigeria to be, how can verification portal breakdown, they need to brace up and be active because when there are fake certificates among seafarers in the country, it does not help the country at all”.

Read Also:  Over 3000 Ex-Cadets Of MAN Oron With National Diploma Certificates Stranded, Unable To Further Their Studies

Also speaking Capt Tajudeen Alao a Master Mariner, informed that online verification of CoCs is an international requirement to curb the menace of fake certificates globally, he said Nigeria also have it, but said it might have a breakdown due to server failure

Giving an insight, he said: “The employer can not verify the certificates, also other countries it used to be physical they write a letter to verify because it was treated as a medical checkup and they write to you

“Even me as the owner of a certificate I cannot verify my certificate myself, but my employer can write to verify, but when it becomes an international requirement it is online because it is criminal to employ somebody with a fake certificate, so they now make it make it compulsory that all countries that issue certificate must have a portal where they can verify it online, we have it but if the server is down what can we do,” he said.

The National President of Seafarers’ Union, Comrade Bob Yousuo, also frowned at the increasing number of counterfeit certificates in possession of some officers aboard vessels, even as he advocated for the government to arrest ship owners who employ such calibre of employees without proper verification of their certificates.

Yousou also stated that the management of NIMASA has not done much to embark on ship-to-ship visitation in order to cross-check and verify the authenticity of seafarers’ certificates.

He urged the management of NIMASA to put in place measures to investigate the issuance of certificates and nip such in the bud.

An official of NIMASA who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak explained to our correspondent that, it was true that the CoC verification portal has been down for a while. He nevertheless explained that it would be up again soon. “It is really a very small issue, payment for the site is due, but it has not been paid. I know that efforts are in top gear to pay up and get the portal running again”, he told our correspondent on Friday.

shippingposition

Kindly like us on Facebook


Tags: NIMASA CoC Verification Portal

Related Posts

NPA Targets N1.28 Trillion Revenue In 2025

NPA Targets N1.28 Trillion Revenue In 2025

June 24, 2025
Nigeria’s Export To Angola Hits $16.8m In Three Years

Customs Proposes N1.13 Trn For Its 2025 Operation

June 24, 2025
After Eno’s Defection, NYCN Urges Tinubu To Actualise Ibom Deep Seaport Project

After Eno’s Defection, NYCN Urges Tinubu To Actualise Ibom Deep Seaport Project

June 24, 2025
Railway Police Arrest Alleged Vandals In Ilorin, Kano, Gombe

Railway Police Arrest Alleged Vandals In Ilorin, Kano, Gombe

June 24, 2025

Latest News

NPA Targets N1.28 Trillion Revenue In 2025

NPA Targets N1.28 Trillion Revenue In 2025

June 24, 2025

Customs Proposes N1.13 Trn For Its 2025 Operation

After Eno’s Defection, NYCN Urges Tinubu To Actualise Ibom Deep Seaport Project

Railway Police Arrest Alleged Vandals In Ilorin, Kano, Gombe

OMT Makes History as First LNG-Powered Container Ship Berths in West Africa

APFFLON Congratulates CG Adewale, Calls for Two-Year License Validity for Freight Forwarders

AfCFTA SHOCKER: Nigeria’s First Kenya-Bound AfCFTA Cargo Spends 50 Days To Destination 

ENL Debunks Ship Fire Report At Apapa Terminal     

Lekki Tanker Drivers Defy E-Call Up System, Abandon Seven Fully Equipped Parks Over Fee Dispute 

India, China, US Dominate Nigeria’s Foreign Trade In Q1 2025 As Trade Surplus Hits ₦5.17trn   

‘Freight Forwarders Deserve Share of CVFF’ — ANLCA Chieftain Makes Case As FG Targets August Disbursement     

FG Donates 1000 Life Jackets To Residents Of Kwara, Says Boat Mishap Avoidable     

kindly like our Facebook page

Health

Why Prostate Disorder Cases Are Increasing Among Nigerian Men – Experts
Health

Why Prostate Disorder Cases Are Increasing Among Nigerian Men – Experts

June 1, 2025

Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria, Lagos State chapter, has raised the alarm over the increasing number of men...

20m Nigerians Live With Mental Health Issues, Says WHO

20m Nigerians Live With Mental Health Issues, Says WHO

June 1, 2025
Health Facts You Didn’t Know

How Your Habit Affects Fertility

May 19, 2025
Fruits For Raining Season

Fruits For Raining Season

May 19, 2025
See Mental Illness Like Other Treatable Diseases – Says Suicide Survivor

Health Facts You Didn’t Know

May 19, 2025
Alligator Pepper: Benefits, FAQ, Side Effects, & Warning

Alligator Pepper: Benefits, FAQ, Side Effects, & Warning

April 28, 2025
Water And Health: The Relationship That Helps Life

Water And Health: The Relationship That Helps Life

April 28, 2025
Some Truths and Myths About Agbo Herbal Concoction

Some Truths and Myths About Agbo Herbal Concoction

April 21, 2025
The Malaise Of Misuse of Antibiotics

The Malaise Of Misuse of Antibiotics

April 14, 2025
Urologist Debunks Breast-Cancer Prevention Myth

Urologist Debunks Breast-Cancer Prevention Myth

April 14, 2025

© 2021 Shippingposition

Navigate Site

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Terms

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Coast To Coast
  • Oil and Gas
  • Maritime Education
  • The Terminals
  • Maritime safety

© 2021 Shippingposition