By Godfrey Bivbere

National Secretary of Nigeria Ship-owners Association, (NISA), Captain Niyi Labinjo, has accused the management of the Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, of abandoning its core function .

*Maritime

The Director General, Mr. Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi,also restated its commitment to the general welfare of the Nigerian Seafarers with the aim of sustaining the industrial harmony permeating the maritime industry.

Labinjo told Vanguard that the situation where indigenous seafarers are neglected is having negative effective on the industry He pointed out that he sees no hope for the sector in 2014 because there is nothing on ground presently to give hope to ship owners in the New Year.

Akpobolokemi said this when the Agency hosted a sensitization seminar for stakeholders on the Implementation of Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006 as domesticated by Nigeria.

The NIMASA boss who was represented by the Executive Director, Maritime Safety and Shipping Development, Capt. Ezekiel Agaba stated that the seminar is part of the processes towards compliance and enforcement of the MLC, 2006 in Nigeria.

According to him, “ Under this present administration, we have committed huge resources towards the training of cadets through various programmes including the NSDP.

We have also recently given approval for the training of over 300 Seafarers on the STCW to enable them update their mandatory certification while continuing our efforts to ensure that Nigerian Seafarers get placement on both Nigerian and Foreign flagged vessels”.

Also speaking at the event, the NIMASA Executive Director Maritime Labour and Cabotage Service, Barrister Nwabueze Callistus Obi said the submission of the instrument of ratification is a landmark achievement and it marks the beginning of Nigeria’s commitment towards the implementation of seafarers’ right as it concerns their living and working in a decent condition.

Barrister Obi reminded the ship owners, seafarers and other key actors in the industry of the ILO structure of tripartism because everyone has a role to play in order to achieve the desired end.

The programme which held in Lagos and Port Harcourt is aimed at sensitizing stakeholders on the provisions and requirements of the MLC 2006, which enters into force in Nigeria in June 2014.