LAGOS – The Port Consultative Council (PCC) on Thursday urged the Federal Government to improve on training of officer cadre of seafarers to add value to Nigeria’s participation in international maritime trade.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
Its Chairman, Chief Kunle Folarin, who made the plea in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, said the officer cadre of seafarers was in short supply.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
Folarin said the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) had embarked on training of seafarers through the National Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP).
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“When we talk of seafarers, you must think of the ratings, the junior ratings, you must also look at the officer cadre.
“Definitely, all over the world today, the officer cadre is in short supply.
“That is one of the areas you have to start looking in adding value to Nigeria’s participation within the freighting, seafaring activity as it concern Nigerian- generated international trade.
“NIMASA has been doing this under the NSDP programme.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”8″]
“Private individuals also have been sponsoring themselves to become officers.
“When you talk of welfare; welfare goes beyond just providing for their recreation; you must be able to sustain that well-being and that has to be employment.
“Employment generation within seafaring is key to their welfare and what we are doing now is to promote that particular opportunity.
“Nigerian indigenous companies must be encouraged to own ships.
“So where their opportunities for employment do not exist in foreign shipping company, the indigenous shipping company must be able to provide employment.
“That also brings to the fore the need to see the opportunity that can come from the cabotage regime, which is exclusively inland shipping.“
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Folarin said the implementation of the Cabotage law would promote many opportunities including seafarers’ employment and adequate welfare.
According to him, if a man is gainfully-employed, certainly his welfare will be taken care of. (NAN)
Council urges FG to improve on training of seafarers
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