Stakeholders seek improved welfare for seamen
By Fredrick Wright
Accolades were showered on seafarers at the World Maritime Day, owing to their unwavering commitment to national economy notwithstanding the numerous health and safety challenges confronted at sea.
With seaborne contributing over 80 per cent of global trade, the seafarers are at the core of shipping goods and services, even at the point when several nations’ economies were shut down due to COVID-19.
The stakeholders, who gathered in Lagos to celebrate the World Maritime Day 2021, canvassed for improved welfare of seafarers.
The Acting Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Mohammed Bello Koko, affirmed the determination to improve the welfare of seafearers towards providing improved and efficient services to the growth of the country.
Bello-Koko said their positive role and contribution to the growth of global trade cannot be ignored.
He charged all stakeholders to make available a friendly environment to the seafearers in view of the critical role they play in the lives of the Nigerian nation noting the numerous unforseen challenges they would be facing in the nearest future in the discharge of the duties on Sea.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Hammed Ali said the day is significant because trade is synonymous with Customs and trade can not take place without the maritime industry and indeed the maritme workers, the core of which are the seafarers.
He said: “Without the international shipping of products that is expedited by the seafarers those others within the maritime industry, the world’s economy would not be able to function”
Ali urged stakeholders to double efforts to reduce the vessel turn-around time for Nigeria and to further reduce the waiting time for goods to reach the traders warehouses.
National President, Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association, Bob Yousou, stressed the need for Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA to strengthen its enforcement on cabotage act , saying that much has not been achieved in furtherance to better the lots of Nigerian seafarers.
He expressed worries over foreign dominance and disparity of indigenous seafarers despite trading in Nigerian waters with the same Certificate of Competence (CoC).
