Stakeholder Charges FG On Seafarers’ Training

The former chairman of defunct Joint Maritime Labour Industrial Council, Emma Ogidi, has called on the Federal Government to address the problems of seafarers in the country.
He said that until the issue of the seafarers was addressed, the maritime industry and the local content policy would remain underdeveloped in the country.
Ogidi who disclosed this in a chat with newsmen at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, said that it was a shame that Nigerian maritime is still being dominated and controlled by foreigners.
“One of the most important aspects of the maritime sector is the training of seafarers and up till now, we still go outside Nigeria to train and certify seafarers.
“It is a shame that we go to Ghana and other countries to certify our seafarers. That is why I am not happy about the state of the maritime sector in this country.
“All those laws and policies on local content and cabotage are mere paper work that have not been adequately implemented.
“Until this problem of seafarers is addressed, the maritime sector in Nigeria will not be developed. How many Nigerians are vessel owners and how many seafarers do we have in this country,” Ogidi queried.
He, however, commended the Rivers State Governor for donating vessels to the Nigeria Navy to fight insecurity on the water ways as well as for the commissioning of the Port Harcourt Pleasure Park which according to him is world-class.
The ex-maritime executive also thanked God for Rivers State Golden jubilee celebration, inspite of all the challenges of the past.

Corlins Walter