By Victor Ahiuma-Young

ORGANISED Labour in the nation’s maritime industry, has pleaded with the Federal Government to prioritize the resuscitation of the Nigerian National Shipping Line, NNSL, to boost local participation in the nation’s maritime industry and stimulates employment opportunities for the nation’s unemployed Seafarers.

Maritime

Speaking through the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN,  labour also decried the dominance of foreign vessels that allegedly reach Nigeria’s Cabotage Law to the detriment of Nigerian ship owners.

President-General of MWUN, Mr. Adewale Adeyanju, who spoke at a meeting with officials of the union and other stakeholders in Lagos, equally called on the federal government to direct Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, to commence payment of monthly pension to the Seafarers (ratings), that were exited from in 1995 as a result of the liquidation of the defunct NNSL.

He said, “The era where Filipinos and other nationalities took over the job of our indigenous nationals should be eradicated. The union is also aware of the illegal ship to ship (STS) operation that is ongoing in West and Central Africa waters offshore which constitutes a huge source of revenue leakage to our economy. That is why we are crying to the whole world now that the laws of the land must be respected.

We note the preponderance of foreign owned vessels most of which do not meet our cabotage law/act in our territorial waters. Indeed, the Federal Government of Nigeria should through the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) ensure compliance to the cabotage Law and in this whilst create jobs for our teeming Seafarers.

Executive Director, Maritime Labour Services, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Abubakar Jibril, while noting the concerns of the union leader said the agency has put in place measures to see to the implementation of the Cabotage Act.

Part of the measures according to him, was the introduction of an electronic register of all maritime labour such that where ever there is any identified job for seafaring, it is carried out by Nigerians.