By Godwin Oritse

THE Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency has concluded plans to train a total of 50,000 Nigerian seafarers just as the first batch of 1,500 is set to sail to the Philippines for various training in the seafaring profession.

Speaking at send forth ceremony for the beneficiaries of the National Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP), NIMASA’s Director-General, Mr Patrick Akpobolokemi said that the agency is making efforts to ensure that Nigeria is able to bridge the seafarers gap projected vacancy of 250,000  seafarers by the year 2015 by International Maritime Organisation (IMO)

He said that NIMASA is giving the beneficiaries fill sponsorship because of the seriousness the agency attache to the NSDP project which was initiated about three years ago.

He noted that there is a decline in the seafaring profession and the government has decided to build capacity in this area of the maritime industry.

He stated that the government no cost on the training of the cadets, as the government also want to commence the export of seafarers to other parts of the world like the Philippines.

“The desire to fast track the creation  of a large pool of Nigerian seafarers by the year  2015, to meet local demand and contribute to the manpower needs of the international shipping community, informed the agency’s decision to commence a ‘fully sponsored scheme ‘ whereby  NIMASA  fully sponsors qualified students.

“Under the scheme, about 1,500students were examined and screened for the 2012\2013 academic session.

Admission have been secured for the successful in various maritime training institutions abroad, to be trained up to degree level in the Nautical Sciences, Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture”. He added.