NIMASA Plans To Train Niger Delta Youths

Plans have been concluded by the  Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency to train ex-militant youths as rating officers.

Its Director General, Mr. Temisan Omatseye, dropped the hint at a media parley organised by the agency at its resources centre, Kirikiri, Lagos.

He explained that the agency would also evolve a scheme for engaging the trained youths as maritime security and enforcement officers for the International Ship and Ports Facility (ISPS) Code, Cabotage, Search, and Rescue and pollution enforcement.

Omatseye, said the agency is working on a comprehensive maritime-led development strategy, which will be implemented in phases in collaboration with all the stakeholders in the Niger Delta, with focus to deliver on harnessing seafaring potential of the Niger Delta youths.

The Director –General also intimated journalists on the agency’s plan to establish more maritime academies to address the current challenges of acute shortage of qualified seafarers.

While reviewing his 100 days in office, Omatseye said, there was significant increase of funds for the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) from less than $7 million in July 2009 to over $55 million in June 2010, representing 685 per cent increase.

He  revealed that arrangement for the administration of the CVFF has reached an advanced stage, stressing that the disbursement of the first batch would be concluded shortly through primary lending banks such as Diamond Bank, Skye Bank ,Fidelity Bank and Equitorial Bank.

 He said that the agency has intensified efforts towards inter-agency collaboration to ensure effective implementation of its policies and programmes, which requires the support and input of sister agencies to succeed.

 Such agencies, he said, include Nigeria Ports Authority, (NPA), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Shippers Council, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Air force and Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board, (NCDMB).