NIMASA Decentralizes NSDP Framework

BY GBOGBOWA GBOWA

After years of dilly dallying and uncertainty, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) may have caved in to pressure to open up the Nigerian Seafarers Development Program (NSDP) to third party participation aimed at strengthening the programme and enhancing the marketability of the beneficiaries.

This is even as NIMASA has signed a training agreement with the Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas, NLNG Ship Management Limited (NSML) to facilitate the Certificate of Competency (CoC) examinations for beneficiaries of the NSDP.

The NSDP is a sponsored intervention programme being implemented by NIMASA to grow capacity of young Nigerians to be certified as seafarers with global recognition and acceptance, thus bridging the gap in the dearth of seafarers globally.

In spite of the laudable initiative, the FG has wrapped up the NSDP not only as an exclusive federal project but also structured as a seemingly fund guzzling venture,  which has over the time attracted controversies ranging from allegation of administrative deficit to embezzlement, negligence and tardiness to wanton neglect of cadets and  state of despondency.

With the current arrangement, NIMASA has set to restructure, redirect and redeem some of the crucial concerns such the Certificate of Competency (COC), which has remained a sore point. The CoC examination is the final stage of the NSDP training, culminating in the acquisition of the CoC license which potentially opens the doors of global employment opportunities for the cadets.

No doubt, NIMASA aim to go places and frontally do whatever is needful to collapse all areas of deficits in the race to reposition and optimize its deliverables and hence adequately respond to the performance bond it signed recently with the federal ministry of marine and blue economy.

According to a statement by the Agency Head of Public Relations, Osagie Edward FNIPR, the partnership deal between it and NSML holds a lot of promises and prospects design to achieve operational quick turn around and considerable overall wins.

Speaking at an induction ceremony by NSML for 50 of NIMASA’s Romanian trained NSDP beneficiaries, the NIMASA Director General, Dr Bashir Jamoh OFR, highlighted the success of the collaboration between both parties in fostering the development of Nigerian seafarers.

Represented by the Director Special Duties, Isichei  Osamgbi, the DG noted that NIMASA sincerely appreciates NSML for their leadership and vision in partnering the Agency to support the development of seafarers and promotion of our local content onboard their vessels.

“It is worthy of note that a good number of NSDP Officers trained onboard NSML vessels are now employed by the company. Today, we are proud to announce that 150 Romanian-trained NSDP cadets have concluded their mandatory onboard sea training and are ready to proceed for the Certificate of Competency (CoC) training and examinations.

The signing of this Training Agreement between both parties resulting in the commencement of CoC for the first batch of Romanian trained cadets, will go a long way in ensuring all backlogs of cadets awaiting CoCs are cleared”.

He urged other organizations in the industry to take a cue from NSML and give opportunities to aspiring Nigerian seafarers to acquire knowledge and gain experiences to excel in the field”, he said.

Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, while speaking at the ceremony charged the lucky Cadets to be worthy ambassadors of Nigeria. According to Dr. Ajani who was represented by Mrs. Ekanem Saila, a Deputy Director with the Ministry noted that the collaboration between NIMASA and NSML was a welcome development, which she disclosed is the outcome of discussions that has been on for some time.

On his part, the Managing Director/CEO of NSML, Abdulkadir Ahmed, said the organisation is sponsoring 50 of the cadets to the South Shield Marine School in the UK for a 12 month programme to get their certificates of competency required to trade on vessels, globally.

Ahmed said this is aimed at addressing the dearth of Nigerian seafarers on ocean going vessels and the need to meet indigenous manning requirements in Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage). He stated that the training programme in the UK is the gold standard in maritime training, noting that with the certificate of competencies, the cadets will become qualified seafarers and work on any vessel globally.

“So our support here is really in coordinating and ensuring we actually support these cadets back to back because the goal is to ensure they come out with good Certificates of Competency and to ensure they have a career in the global shipping marine sector,” he stated.

Ahmed also noted that, with the emerging transition in the shipping and maritime industry, such as in energy and decarbonisation, which requires bringing in new technologies, it is important that seafarers continue to upgrade their skill sets and train on new technologies to be abreast of new developments.