The National president of the Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association, Engr. Alalade Mathew has urged the Federal Government to give desirable attention to Nigerian’s sea farers so they can compete favourably internationally.
The President disclosed this during the 2014 Seafarer’s day tagged “Seafarers Brought Me” organized by the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) in Lagos.
According to him, “Government and port authorities should treat seafarers as partners in the fight against terrorism and facilitate their access to ports and shore facilities”.
He stressed that the collaborative efforts of all will give the economy a boost, “Shipping relies heavily on the initiative, cooperation and constant vigilance of seafarers to help prevent breaches of maritime security and without their support and wholehearted commitment, the system of ISPS code aims to put in place will be severely weakened” He said.
“It is crucial that seafarers are not made to feel rejected in any way or that their4 services are not sufficiently recognized”, He appealed.
He however noted that, “Nevertheless every year too many seafarers are either injured or lose their lives in maritime accidents. More often than not, their injuries and deaths go largely unrecorded and are soon forgotten by all but close friends and families”, He said.
In the same vein, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) have promised Seafarers operating in the country a review in their condition of service.
Director General of the agency, Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi, stated this yesterday in Calabar, the Cross River State capital at the celebrations marking this year’s Day of the Seafarers, which is marked all over the world as permitted by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
Akpobolokemi announced that the agency would reconvene the meeting of the National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC) to this effect.
“It is worthy of mention also that the agency has put the necessary modalities in place for the reconvening of the meeting of the National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC) for the review of the Condition of Service of Seafarers, in line with the provisions of MLC, 2006”, he stated.
Earlier, Akpobolokemi had remarked that in line with the objectives of this year’s campaign, NIMASA and other maritime stakeholders were required to increase the awareness among the general public of the indispensable services seafarers rendered to international seaborne trade, world economy and the society at large.
He added that they were required to send a clear message that they recognized and appreciated the services rendered by seamen, even under extraordinary conditions and circumstances.
“At the regulatory level, we are redoubling efforts towards creating a better, safer and more secure maritime environment in which you can operate”, the NIMASA boss stated.
He pointed out how the agency had demonstrated its resolve in improving the working conditions of seafarers in the country by embarking on various capacity building and welfare programmes.