Nigeria to groom seafarers, others to man Nigerian vessels in five years

By TAYO OLADIPUPO |

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has said that the ministry is working to see that Nigeria grooms seafarers, Marine Engineers and architects that can independently operate Nigerian vessels within the next five years.

He also promised to work with the Association of Marine Engineers and Surveyors (AMES) to achieve the feat as well as for the development of the Maritime industry.

Amaechi made the declaration in his keynote address at the second edition of the Nigerian Maritime Technical Summit held in Lagos, Tuesday.

The Honourable Minister of Transportation was represented at the event by the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside.

He said that the government required the experience and expertise of members of AMES to be able to achieve the desired reforms that the government intends to carry out in the shipping subsector of the Maritime industry.

He said, “AMES is the heart of shipping that is why we will have to give attention to safety and other issues in the industry.

“AMES has been supportive in carrying out the transformation; we rely on the technical expertise of the surveyors and engineers.

According to the minister, to achieve the service goals, there were initiatives already taken in conjunction with the Association.

Among the initiatives are; encouraging the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to develop a port development masterplan, continued encouragement of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in grooming young engineers and surveyors, architects as a way of building a successor generation.

He added that the Ministry was working on resuscitating the national fleet through the setting up of a committee to look into setting up of a national fleet that is viable.

Earlier, the President of AMES, Engr. Charles Uwadia said that the group had been encouraged by the enthusiasm of the ministry, adding that, the association would continue to work with the ministry.

Uwadia further stated, that, the first Summit held in 2016 by the association engendered several committees by the ministry in reformation of the Maritime industry.

According to him, the committees include a committee constituted to look into the establishment of national fleet, committee looking into reform of ship registry and reform of Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron.