Maritime
Sanction Nations That Reject Nigerian Certificates, NIWA Urges NIMASA
A former President of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Comrade Sunday Avoseh, has urged the Nigerian Maritime Administrations and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to reject the certificates of seafarers from nations that refuse to accept certified Nigerian seafarers.
He said that Nigerian Seafarers’ certificates of competency were issued by Nigerian indigenous seafarers’ training institutions.
Avoseh made the call while speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt recently.
He said if the regulatory agency could improve on the standards of Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) in Oron, it would be able to compete with other global maritime institutions.
According to him, if the institution is worth its onion, the agency could stand on its feet that any nation that would not accept the local certification of Nigerian seafarers, such country would also lose privilege of parading its certificate in Nigeria.
Avoseh decried the high cost of traveling abroad to acquire certificates, saying there is no technical know-how other countries offer that Nigeria could not produce.
“Any country that will not accept the certificate of Nigeria through bilateral relationship with other nations, we should also not accept their certificates.
“NIMASA needs to do something urgent because foreign exchange is being wasted by seafarers going to obtain papers outside this country.
“There is nothing they are going to get outside the country that we cannot be able to do here, NIMASA need to give priority to this”, he said.
He pleaded with the management of the regulatory agency to, as a matter of urgency, lower the cost of certificate and discharge books renewal, insisting that the present cost is too high.
He also called on NIMASA to expedite action in implementing the Cabotage Act as well as reduce the hospital bills for seafarers.
“Today, for a seafarer to be able to renew his certificate of competency and do endorsement of their discharge books, what they are charging is too high, even the discharge books.
“They need to lower their price so that it can be affordable for seafarers because for someone who has not gained employment and you are asking him to come and pay exorbitant fee to be able to renew their documentation, I don’t think that is right.
“They also need to look into the fees that are charged in the hospitals for medicals.
“These are the things NIMASA needs to do, including the implementation of Cabotage Law. It is annoying to still see foreign ratings on our waterways, NIMASA needs to do something”, he said.
By: Chinedu Wosu
Maritime
Illegal Migration: NIS, NIWA Move To Strengthen Partnership
Following the spate of illegal migration into the country by migrants, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) have concluded plans to strengthen their partnership to curb illegal migration through the Lagos State waterways.
The plan to deepen partnership was discussed when the new Comptroller of Immigration Service in charge of Lagos Seaports and Marine Command, CIS Joseph Dada, visited the NIWA, Lagos Area Manager, Mrs Sarat Braimah in Lagos.
Speaking at the visit, Dada said the service would fare better in achieving its mandate with a strategic partnership with the waterways regulator.
“We have some challenges on the waterways, even though we do patrols. Collaborating with NIWA will guarantee stronger waterway operations.
“We are not saying people shouldn’t migrate or ‘japa’ from Nigeria. Migration is part of life and people have a right to seek greener pastures.
“However, they must do it the right way. They have to get their passports, visas and travel through the appropriate channels”, he said.
Dada lamented that several Nigerian ladies are victims of human trafficking for prostitution usually disguised as job offers for care workers abroad.
Also Speaking, Managing Director, NIWA, Mrs Sarat Braimah, welcomed the idea of strategic collaboration with the NIS, stressing that both agencies are working for the common good of Nigeria and its citizens.
“We expect this collaboration to prohibit illegal migration. Migration is part of life and as you observed earlier, it fosters tourism, culture and development.
“Nonetheless, we will assist the NIS in achieving their objective, which is that people shouldn’t migrate illegally.
“A lot of passengers board ferries from Marina jetty to Badagry and Port Novo. We don’t know their final destination or verify their identity; but we’re open to NIS partnership to carry out migration checks”, she said.
She noted that NIWA could train immigration officials on how to go onboard vessels safely, and also provide boats, lifejackets, among other equipment, when the Immigration make such requests.
Maritime
NPA To Generate N629bn Revenue In 2024 -MD
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) says the authority will generate N629.89 billion in 2024.
NPA is also seeking for N200 billion loan from Afrexim Bank for ports development.
Managing Director, NPA, Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko, stated this while defending the 2024 budget before the House of Representatives Committee on Ports and Harbours in Abuja.
He said the United Kingdom Export Finance (UKEF) was also listed as one of the financial institutions from which to source the loan.
Koko said the total projected expenditure was N464.32 billion, while the operating expenses were projected at N212.03 billion and the capital expenditure stood at N252.29 billion.
“Part of the main trust of the 2024 budget is the urgent need to rehabilitate, reconstruct and moderate the dilapidated port infrastructure facilities”, he stated.
The Managing Director said defects in the facilities were hampering efficiency and productivity in the ports, saying that the defects include the quay walls and the replacement of old gravity walls.
According to him, another is need for rehabilitation of Escravos breakwaters.
“This is aimed at improving port efficiency and increasing cargo traffic through investment funding from the financiers, UKEF and Afrexim”, he said.
Earlier, Chairman of the committee, Nnolin Nnaji, said the agency is very dear to the country, hence the need for the committee to visit some of the facilities outside Lagos.
“We need to see those things you are telling us. The House of Representatives is very serious about budget defence, while they do screening on the other side, budget defence is here”, he said.
He commended the Managing Director for the budget presentation, saying that he believed in the subsequent budget
“We accept this budget, and we will move further with it”, he assured.
The lawmaker also said the drainage channels were full of wreckages and expressed concern over lack of information on wreckage removal.
Nnaji noted that as long as the NPA avoided the wreckage, it will keep occurring because of the abandoned ships facilities.
Maritime
COWA Distributes Food Items To Members In Abuja
In a bid to cushion the hardship and hunger faced by ordinary Nigerians, the Customs Officer’s’ Wives Association (COWA) has distributed food items to its members in Karu Customs Barracks, Abuja.
National President, COWA, Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi, who flagged off the exercise, said the distribution of the food items was part of COWA’s plans to ease life for its members.
“This is not the first time COWA is conducting this initiative of distributing food items to the members and non-members of the association, and we decided to distribute these items considering the season of Ramadan.
“Everything we are doing now is for you. Please register so we can make provision for all of you. This will help us keep proper data of everyone and we will continue doing this subsequently to alleviate the situation”, Adeniyi said.
She further said food items were also being distributed to COWA members across all Customs formations in the country.
Some of the food items distributed include rice, spaghetti, noodles and cooking oil.
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