The Alumni of Maritime Academy of Nigeria (AMAN) in Oron, Akwa Ibom state has called on the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to carry out an audit of Maritime Training Institutions (MTIs) to ensure that maritime labour employers and agents are in compliance with its regulations and that, standards of on board training and welfare are in line with the International Maritime Organization, IMO requirements.
This is contained in a communiqué issued at end of a stakeholders’ forum themed “urgent call to re-think maritime education and training.
In the communiqué which was signed by the group’s President and Secretary-General, Austin Umezurike and Emmanuel Maiguwa, respectively, it urged NIMASA to harmonize its seafarer certification and take urgent steps to commence the issuance of Foreign-Going certificates to ensure competitiveness of Nigerian seafarers.
Part of the communiqué reads: “The Federal Ministry of Transport, through its regulatory agency NIMASA, should intensify effort in the implementation and monitoring of existing regulations on maritime education and training.
“Government is called upon to set aside some portion of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) for the acquisition of a national training ship.
Federal Government should review the tax regime for vessel acquisition by local ship-owners.
It added that: “This will help to grow the national fleet and hence provide training and employment opportunities on these vessels.
“Oil & Gas and maritime companies are encouraged to support MTIs by providing them access to their resources and funds for acquisition of simulators and other training aids.
“Funding is critical in the education and training of maritime professionals, from providing essential training aids such as simulators and workshops, to attracting qualified and experienced lecturers in the maritime training institutions”
‘”A seafarer’s education is not complete without onboard training in line with STCW requirements”, the communiqué noted.
The group also noted that the consensus is that Nigeria needs to re-evaluate its policies and approach on maritime education and training in line with global trends.
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