Seafarers Board Says Employers of Released Pirates Must Rehabilitate Them

The National Seafarers Welfare Board (NSWB) of Nigeria has said that it is working with relevant international bodies to ensure that the two Nigerian seafarers who released by Somali pirates recently are adequately compensated and rehabilitated by their employers.
Its chairman, Otunba Kunle Folarin said yesterday that the NSWB is touch with the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) to ensure that the Nigerian seafarers were not left without relief.

The National Seafarers Welfare Board (NSWB) of Nigeria has said that it is working with relevant international bodies to ensure that the two Nigerian seafarers who released by Somali pirates recently are adequately compensated and rehabilitated by their employers.
Its chairman, Otunba Kunle Folarin said yesterday that the NSWB is touch with the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) to ensure that the Nigerian seafarers were not left without relief.
Speaking further, he stated  that: “The employer has to rehabilitate them; pay them their wages; and if possible, give them their jobs back. “On the humanitarian side, the ITF (International Transport Workers Federation) London is working on details, but you know this type of thing, you work hand in hand with the employer so that two of you would not be duplicating things”.
 “For instance, the employer has to give them Medicare and the humanitarian part of ITF says Medicare. “The ITF of London on the humanitarian side is working on something, but then they have to work hand in hand with the employer so that they don’t duplicate efforts.
 “For instance now, if you are talking about Medicare, is the employer giving medical care?  After all it’s part of its conditions of service.
 “Then two, what about their wages?
“So all these details are things that have taken time. They have to work it out quickly. Towards this weekend now, we should be having a clear picture.’’
The two Nigerian seafarers on board the MT Royal Grace vessel were held hostage by Somali pirates as it was sailing from Fujara Port in the United Arab Emirates to the Apapa Port in Nigeria.
The two seafarers, who were held hostage on Somali waters in March 2012, arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos in March 2013 after their release. The freed hostages; Kings Nehemiah Okoye and Parson Gladdey came aboard Qatar Airways
The seafarers were held hostage  in March 2012.
They were held hostage 900 nautical miles from Somalian territorial waters while the vessel was sailing from  Fujara Port in UAE heading to Apapa Port.
The duo had told journalist  on arrival at  the MMIA, Lagos that the third seafarer  died due to the intense torture by the Somalian pirates.