Minister of Transportation; Mr Rotimi Amaechi has appealed for Technical Cooperation from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to upgrade the programmes and curriculum of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria Oron, so as to facilitate its desire to become a maritime University.
The Minister said the collaboration would allow the academy comply with the 2010 amendments to STCW and support to secure seatime training for the graduates of the Academy.
He said that the technical cooperation was aimed at converting the Academy to a degree awarding institution; he called for greater involvement of the IMO in building capacities of the Academy’s instructors.
The Minister said this when he paid a courtesy visit to the Secretary General of the IMO Mr. Kitack Lim in London recently.
Amaechi who expressed the appreciation of Nigeria for the Technical Assistance the country has benefitted from the IMO also called for more cooperation in the areas of combating piracy and maritime education.
He informed the IMO Secretary General that “Nigeria has already put in place action plans and initiatives through the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for the implementation of the code of conduct entered into by the Heads of States and Governments of ECOWAS, ECCAS and the Gulf of Guinea Commission on the fight against piracy, sea robbery and other maritime crimes.”
Responding, the IMO Scribe, Mr. Kitack Lim commended Nigeria for its commitment towards meeting the obligations of the IMO and other International Organisations.
The Secretary General assured the Minister of the cooperation of the IMO in the areas of continuous training in Maritime Security, Search and Rescue (SAR), Port State Control (PSC) and capacity building for Instructors of MAN Oron.
While noting that sea time training has become a global concern, Mr. Lim said that the IMO would reach out to shipping companies towards engaging the Academy’s cadets on board vessels.
The Minister was accompanied to the IMO by the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside and Nigeria’s Alternate Permanent Representative to the IMO, Mr. Diko Bala.
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