Business
Maritime Operators Seek Improved Seafarers’ Training
The need to improve on the quality of training for Nigerian seamen has been emphasised, as Nigeria joined the rest of the word to celebrate the United Nations (UN) Day of the Seafarer.
Stakeholders who made their remarks at the event in Port Harcourt, during the week, harped on the need for government and the private sector to form a synergy considering the contribution of seafarers to global economy.
According to the Managing Director of Solem Maritime Services Limited, Segun Iloju, the marking of the day in Nigeria is to further focus attention on the need to accord priority to the training of seafarers in Nigeria and provide them quality jobs, in order to reduce capital flight.
Iloju who is also a retired Naval Officer, said that Nigeria is losing several billions of dollars yearly due to the domination of the nation’s coastal trade by foreigners. Theme of the maiden edition of the UN Day of the Seafarer celebration ‘Go to Sea, a Lifetime Opportunity’ is unique here in Nigeria considering the fact that our country is import dependent.
“Seafarers, no doubt, make significant contributions to the growth and development of any country’s economy, no wonder Philippines and India have long ago identified this and have continued to churn out a large number of seafarers that are spread all over the globe” he said.
It will be recalled that the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority Chief Adebayo Sarumi in his remarks in Lagos, said the decision by the United Nations through the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to celebrate seafarers on yearly basis is highly commendable due to their immense contributions to world trade and peace.
He said that despite insinuations that Nigeria as a nation has nothing to celebrate in seafaring; Nigeria has a lot to celebrate when one considers the age of Nigeria as an independent nation. He lamented that the training of seafarers in Nigeria has dwindled after the demise of the Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL).