Endorsement has come for current efforts by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in the area of training of the country’s seafarers to internationally acceptable standards.
Speaking at the recent at the enlightenment programme on seafaring which held in Enugu and which was organised by NIMASA, both the chairman, Senate Committee on information and member committee on marine transport, Senator Ayogu Eze and minister of state, water transportation, Prince John Okechukwu Emeka declared total support for the initiative which is meant to open up seafaring as a profession to the grassroots.
Assuring NIMASA of the support of the National Assembly at the event in Enugu recently, Senator Ayogu Eze told participants at the enlightenment campaign that the National Assembly would give accelerated hearing to any bill related to the development of seafaring in particular or the maritime industry in general.
Describing enlightenment programme as a right step, the Senator however lamented that despite her potentials, Nigeria has not been able to take her rightful place and that the nation is always been marginalised
He equally called for the enhancement of the training capabilities of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, in Oron, Akwa Ibom state even as he disclosed that Nigeria is opening up economically and that Nigerians must begin to position themselves to benefit from these opportunities.
Speaking in the same vein, the minister who was represented by his special adviser, technical matters, Mazi Okey Nzem said shipping as a harbinger of wealth, remains the main source of control of international economy.
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He pointed out that the importance attached to seafaring by the developed nations makes them to fully exploit not just their coastal areas but their shipping potentials too.
According to him, shortage of seafarers is a problem to the effective implementation of the Cabotage law, especially as most of the seafarers presently available are aged.
He disclosed that the Ministry refused to grant any waiver under the present administration because most of the vessels are manned by foreign seafarers just as he acknowledged that it was important that Nigerians are made to man positions on board vessels that do not require much training.
He consequently admonished youths in the south-eastern part of the country to take advantage of the opportunity being provided by the federal government by ensuring that they enlist to be trained to become seafarers.
Before Enugu, the sensitisation programme had been taken to Kaduna State. There are indications that the next port of call might be Niger state.
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