Following alleged poor implementation of the Cabotage law, which has allegedly given foreign seafarers an edge on Cabotage vessels on Nigerian waters, the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has accused the Nigeria Maritime and Safety Administration Agency (NIMASA) of insincerity.
Speaking to our correspondent in Port Harcourt last week, Chairman of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Seamen, and Water Transportation Branch, Rivers State; Comrade Jonah Jumbo pointedly accused the agency of working against the intendment of the Act.
Following alleged poor implementation of the Cabotage law, which has allegedly given foreign seafarers an edge on Cabotage vessels on Nigerian waters, the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has accused the Nigeria Maritime and Safety Administration Agency (NIMASA) of insincerity.
Speaking to our correspondent in Port Harcourt last week, Chairman of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Seamen, and Water Transportation Branch, Rivers State; Comrade Jonah Jumbo pointedly accused the agency of working against the intendment of the Act.
Comrade Jumbo who said he was speaking on account of a recent sensitization seminar organized by NIMASA in Port Harcourt for operators, where the agency called for support to unmask companies frustrating the implementation of the Cabotage Act, declared that NIMASA is aiding and abetting defaulters of cabotage regime at the same time.
He described the NIMASA’s open event as waste of resources and cosmetic, even as he alleged that NIMASA is not sincere about ensuring that Cabotage Act as it relates to securing jobs for seafarers is a deception.
‘’Let me tell you, a lot of things are happening particularly in Rivers State. Many people are doing manning agents job and these people are not duly registered by NIMASA as the law requires. Yet those concerned are pretending not to know’’, Comrade Jonah Jumbo told our correspondent.
He said that these companies and their vessels are at the mangrove of Niger Delta, with non – Nigerian seafarers on board the vessels.
He observed that such companies employ unqualified seafarers, most times non – Nigerians. He said that the same NIMASA that raises alarm over non –implementation of Cabotage law are same people dishing out waivers, and giving soft landing to the expatriate seafarers who have taken over jobs meant for Nigerians.
Comrade Jumbo said there are many examples of such companies, noting that even when the union brings genuine complaint to NIMASA, “before you turn back they compromise, and set them free to continue in their illegality”.
He then wondered what NIMASA is doing, stating that NIMASA is not doing their job of protecting the interest of Nigerians by not allowing the cabotage law to survive.
‘’We had once gone ahead to stop such illegal operators, bring them to the notice of NIMASA, but three days later, the people will call us and say they have settled with NIMASA’’, Comrade Jumbo alleged.
‘’ A lot of expatriates are here doing a lot of jobs – oilers, able seamen jobs, rating jobs etc. Philipinos, Lebanese, Indonesians, Indians are every where in Nigerian waters on board vessels. How do they get the waivers?’’, the MWUN top barass asked.
‘’ NIMASA men are compromising. They collect money and close their eyes. Good, they train, but they cannot give jobs because of corruption. NIMASA should wake up’’, Comrade Jonah Jumbo alleged.
However, all efforts made to speak to the Zonal Coordinator of NIMASA in Port Harcourt; Mr Anthony Ogadi over these allegations against NIMASA proved abortive.
Also when contacted, the Public Relations Officer of NIMASA, in Port Harcourt Mr Tekena Iyalla told our correspondent to channel all enquiries on NIMASA operations to Lagos.
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