Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)- Experts & Thought Leaders

One of the cardinal principles of the Cabotage regime is the localisation of manning vessels operating in Nigerian waters. To a considerable extent, NIMASA has ensured the placement of Nigerian seafarers on board Cabotage vessels, in line with its placement function and the provisions of the Cabotage Act, 2003. Improving on this, Cabotage manning applications are now processed on the condition that all foreign crew especially Ratings on board vessels are to be replaced with Nigerian seafarers/cadets within two-three weeks of operations. Resultantly, 539 Nigerian seafarers have been recommended for replacement in the first quarter of 2023. NIMASA places Nigerian seafarers onboard Cabotage vessels NIMASA under the current administration led by Dr. Bashir Jamoh OFR, have placed 3,705 seafarers onboard Cabotage vessels in the year 2021, 7,238 seafarers placed in 2022 and 1013 placed in 2023 (Jan – July). Overall, a total of 11,956 Nigerian seafarers have been placed onboard Cabotage vessels from January 2021 to July 2023. Registration and documentation have now been digitalised as the establishment of the e-registration platform is to enable the online and real-time registration of maritime labour (seafarers & dockworkers), maritime labour employers (shipping companies, manning/crewing agents, stevedoring companies, jetties/terminals operators) and operators (bonded terminals, inland container deports, off dock terminals, dry ports offshore platforms) in Nigeria. Maritime labour E-registration platform The maritime labour E-registration platform is a robust integrated information, verification and communication facility It is worthwhile to mention that the maritime labour E-registration platform is a robust integrated information, verification and communication facility that provides real-time information on maritime labour registration processes and operations, as well as enables the online registration and verification of documents, and the issuance of operational licenses timely. The platform is also meant to serve as a database from which statistics can be extrapolated for national planning, policy formulation, human and infrastructural development and research purposes. NIMASA is in the process to host the E-registration platform on the Agency website. Seafarers registered on the E-registration platform Furthermore, 3,219 and 3,619 seafarers were registered in the years 2021 and 2022, respectively with 1176 registered in the year 2023 (Jan-July). In the same vein, 24 MLC, 2006 certificates were issued in the year 2021, 49 MLC, 2006 certificates issued in the year 2022 and 63 MLC, 2006 certificates have been issued in the year 2023 (Jan-July). Thus, a total of 8,014 seafarers have been registered from 2021 to 2023 (Jan-July) and 136 MLC, 2006 certificates issued after inspections within the same years. Moreover, 65 stevedoring companies, 26 terminal/jetty operators and 1,395 dockworkers have been registered from 2021 to 2023 (Jan-July). Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) NIMASA in 2008 initiated the NSDP with the sole mandate of training Nigerian youths to become seafarers NIMASA in 2008 initiated the NSDP with the sole mandate of training Nigerian youths to become seafarers and Naval Architects, in fulfilling one of its cores in the area of Maritime Capacity Building.  The programme was designed to train Nigerian youths up to Degree level in Marine Engineering, Nautical Sciences and Naval Architecture in some of the best Maritime Training Institutions (MTIs) abroad and to position them to compete effectively in the global Maritime Industry as a means of developing the Nigerian maritime space. Recall that in December 2022, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency sent forth 235 Nigerians to India and Greece as Batch B of the 435 young Nigerians to be trained as Licensed Deck and Engine Officers including Naval Architects under the Agency’s Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) with an additional 200 having been previously sponsored for overseas training under Batch A. Certificate of Competency - CoC Speaking at the time, the NIMASA Director General (DG) – Dr. Bashir Jamoh, OFR, noted that the Agency was working with countries who are committed to an understanding for mutual recognition of Certificate of Competency, CoC, and that had underpinned the selection of the chosen Institutes to train the beneficiaries. It is also noteworthy that the Agency has succeeded in providing sea time for all beneficiaries of the NSDP. This implies that the bedrock for young Nigerians to earn foreign currencies and improve remittances to the country has been set by the Agency.

The Honourable Minister of the Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola, has stated that tackling illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, harnessing marine tourism, safety and security are top of the agenda of his administration as Minister of the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue economy. He stated this during a working visit to NIMASA headquarters in Lagos, where he met with the Top Management staff of the Agency. The Minister said the time has come for Nigeria to fully harness its vast potential in the maritime sector, noting that the working visit was to ascertain and properly appraise the situation of things with a view of taking practical steps and measures towards addressing them. Stemmed capital flight In his words, “Today, we have come to see some of the things you told us in Abuja and to properly appraise the situation of things with a view to taking practical steps towards addressing them. I am particularly interested in the NIMASA Modular Floating Dock because of its potential to generate employment and stemmed capital flight.  But we must find a way of ensuring stakeholders’ buy-in, in whatever we do so that we are seen to be working together for the growth and development of Nigeria.” Speaking further, the Minister noted that it was time for Nigeria to float a National Carrier Speaking further, the Minister noted that it was time for Nigeria to float a National Carrier, stressing that through a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) arrangement, and the support of stakeholders, such a plan would be achieved in the interest of the maritime industry and Nigeria as a whole. Smart and strategic thinking The Minister averred that management of the resources of Nigeria’s Marine and Blue Economy entailed proactive, smart and strategic thinking. He called for the rediscovery, harnessing and packaging of the nation’s maritime resources, including seafoods, in line with all associated international standards and specifications. The Minister, who bemoaned foreign dominance of the fishing industry, assured that under his watch it will no longer be business as usual.  In his words “According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the fisheries sector contributed 1.09% of the country’s total GDP in the year 2020 and 0.9% in the Q3 of 2021. We are regarded as a net importer of fishery products. But we are determined to change the narrative by putting in place measures to make Nigeria a major player in that regard.” Developing marine tourism Oyetola stressed that safety and security of the maritime corridors of Nigeria was a priority area Oyetola stressed that safety and security of the maritime corridors of Nigeria was a priority area in his agenda for the ministry, noting that without safety and security, there can never be a meaningful achievement in the industry. He added that with the rich endowments of her marine and blue economy, Nigeria had no justification not to develop marine tourism, which is a revenue-spinner for most countries, especially at the period when diversification of the economy from oil was sacrosanct. According to him, “Nigeria makes up about 853 kilometres of the estimated 47,000 kilometres of coastline in Africa. Nigeria has one of the largest wetlands in the world, with its coastal and marine ecosystems covering a total of 70,000 square kilometres. There are countries around the world that rely solely on earnings from the tourism sector. Here in Nigeria, we also have what it takes to attract tourists to waters. Therefore, we shall be developing the infrastructure in cities and towns that are lake or coastal facing for this purpose.” Marine and blue economy The Minister commended the Management of NIMASA under the leadership of Dr. Bashir Jamoh, OFR, for his grit and determination in ensuring that the Agency fulfils its mandates. The Minister commended the Management of NIMASA under the leadership of Dr. Bashir Jamoh He noted that he had full confidence in the capabilities and dedication of the Agency’s management and stated that he looked forward to witnessing the continued success of NIMASA in shaping the future of the country’s maritime sector, reiterating that together, a thriving marine and blue economy that benefits everyone can be actualised. Country’s maritime sector Jamoh, in his opening remarks, had welcomed the Minister to the Agency, declaring that his appointment was unique and timely. The DG noted that the uniqueness of the Minister’s appointment was based on the industry and stakeholders’ clamors for independence, and the magnanimity of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR to create the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, showed that the President was a listening leader. During the visit, he also inspected the NIMASA Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and intelligence, C4i Centre, NIMASA e-library, the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) radio room, Marine Environment Management Laboratory, the newly acquired NIMASA headquarters, Search and Rescue Base Clinic and the NIMASA Skill Acquisition Centre in Apapa.

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA has taken over areas leased to it by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) at the Continental Shipyard for the operations of the Modular Floating Dock. The areas include but not limited to the dolphin jetty, waterfront of the jetty adjourning the slipway, an administrative block, a construction, welding and mechanical workshop and a civil maintenance workshop, among others. Civil maintenance workshop During the handover ceremony, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, OFR, said that handover of the Continental Shipyard to NIMASA marks the final lap in the quest of the Agency to deploy the modular floating Dockyard. The DG who was represented by the Head, Public, Private Partnership, PPP, Unit Mr. Kabiru Diso assured stakeholders that the Modular Floating Dockyard would soon be deployed since all grey areas between NIMASA and the NPA have been cleared. Dry-docking vessels The Modular Floating Dockyard is a national asset and now that all grey areas between the NPA and NIMASA" “The Modular Floating Dockyard is a national asset and now that all grey areas between the NPA and NIMASA have been addressed, we are very close to the deployment of the Modular Floating Dock.” “Our goal is to domicile dry-docking of vessels in the country thus saving the nation foreign exchange currently expended on dry-docking vessels outside the shores of Nigeria. The floating Dock will also provide both direct and indirect employment to Nigerians with a multiplier effect on capacity development.” He said. Operation of the floating dock The Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission, ICRC, had issued a certificate of compliance for an Outline Business Case (OBC) for the operation of the floating dock, while also describing it as bankable and sustainable. The Modular Floating Dock, which has the capacity to handle up to 10,000 Metric Tons vessels, would be run on a Public Private Partnership arrangement.