The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has said that the training of students under the National Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) is the Agency’s top priority.
The Director General (DG) of the Agency, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, who said this on Monday during an interactive session with the maritime press at Eko Hotels in Lagos, disclosed that it is contemplating the withdrawal of more than 300 cadets enrolled from Centurion University in India due to the quality of education and training being provided to the cadets.
Mobereola stated that NIMASA’s drive is to ensure that the cadets return to Nigeria as well-prepared and employable graduates.
His words: “We have not decided to bring those students back home. What we are doing is reviewing how the school has been engaged. Is it in the students’ best interest? Will they be well-prepared graduates who are employable by the industry?”
However, he said that the Agency was still in the process of evaluating the situation and further explained that the young, vibrant, intelligent students are a top priority for NIMASA.
NIMASA, he said is meticulously developing the best approach to ensure that the cadets receive the education and training necessary to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s maritime sector. “When we present our plan, you will recognise that it is in the best interest of both the nation and the students,” he pointed out.
The NIMASA boss also said that there is an ongoing review of the NIMASA Act of 2007, stating that the revised bill would introduce stricter regulations for all maritime infrastructures, with a particular focus on smaller vessels often used for illicit activities such as piracy and sea robberies.
“In the new bill, we aim to ensure that every boat in our waters is regulated, registered, and monitored,” he stated.
The session also emphasised the importance of media partnerships in shaping public perception and holding the agency accountable.
Mobereola acknowledged the crucial role of journalists in the Maritime Industry, promising improvements in media relations, including the training of media practitioners, which is included in the 2024 budget.
Mobereola encouraged open dialogue and collaboration between NIMASA and media stakeholders for the benefit of the Maritime Sector and the nation as a whole.
“When you speak, it is perceived as being in the industry’s best interest. I encourage you to continue raising these subjects, comparing them with international practices, and advising us on what the NPA and Shippers Council should be doing,” he urged.