By Providence Ayanfeoluwa

Young graduates of Maritime Academy of Nigeria, MAN, Oron have raised alarm over inability to get sea time after graduation, while calling for agency that would be in charge of maritime seafarers’ welfare, with Cadets at the centre of interest.

  The cadets who expressed their displeasure when they paid a courtesy visit to the International Press Centre of the Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria, MARAN, in Lagos, claimed Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA’s scope of operation is so large that it can no longer handle its affairs.

  Speaking on behalf of the cadets, Hameed Adamu, commended the Management of MAN Oron especially the Rector, in their effort to reach out to the indigenous companies, but however, complained that some of the indigenous shipping companies have rejected them for lack of work experience requirement.

  He said: “On the part of the indigenous companies, only a few of the cadets were taken because some companies will say they don’t take cadets, some will say they want experience; we are surprised that they want experience from Cadets. A Cadet is someone that is applying to have experience, so you cannot acquire experience from him, how can we give what we do not have. “But on the Rectors end, he is making a forward innovation to help us.”

The young seafarers called on the government to intervene by providing training vessels for cadets, rather than staying idle after school. “Due to lack of training vessels, majority of us that are tired of seeking for sea-time and the inability to find vessel have made them purchase the Nigerian Navy recruit form to join with their O’level certificate.

“Most countries have training vessel for cadets, whereby after their academics, they proceed to training in these vessels, not staring all over again. If about three or four training vessels are created, their main purpose would be to accept and train cadet but that same vessel will stand as a revenue generation for government, because operation will be on going, but the aim is every year cadet would be employed to train on such vessel.

“All our documents would expire soon and they are very expensive. To do National Diploma in MAN Oron, you would spend N5 million for two years duration, especially now that things are expensive. The problem is not from the school because the school has done their best, I can even credit them because they have tried.

  “The problem is that cadets are neglected in Nigeria, they should not be asking cadet for two years experience, but one-year class room experience to show our effectiveness in class.

  “I came from Delta to Lagos for my discharge letter because NIMASA said that I can only get my permanent discharge booked in Lagos, whereas we have NIMASA offices in Delta, Calabar, Warri and even Port Harcourt. NIMASA has cost me a job before, I did Seafarers Identification Document, SID, just for NIMASA to provide me with status number, and they were telling me to come back in three months to Lagos.

  “But when I spoke with a General in the Army, he told me to check Warri, I did and in less than one week I got it. By the time I went to the company they have moved on,” he said