The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) today (September 6, 2022) launched the electronic registration platform for maritime labour and the issuance of biometric identity cards to dockworkers.
The director-general of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh described the e-platform as a major step towards attaining full automation of all its processes, adding that it was conceived from the need to establish an independent, robust, integrated information verification and communication platform that would serve as a system database generation on maritime labour in Nigeria.
Jamoh, who was represented by the agency’s executive director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Engr. Victor Ochei stated that the development of automation processes would help the industry save man-hours, improve service delivery and build the capacity of the maritime labour workforce.
“I am particularly delighted about the prospect of eliminating the time-consuming process of registering seafarers and employers, which is what the e-platform would provide. It is further expected that the platform would promote a seamless registration process that will culminate with the issuance of biometric identity cards to seafarers and dockworkers.”
Jamoh went on to state that the agency remained committed to building the capacity of Nigerian seafarers and dockworkers to improve the standing of the country’s maritime sector among the comity of maritime nations.
“I wish to reiterate the agency’s commitment towards actualising its mandate as provided in the enabling act. Our resolve to make life meaningful to the entire maritime labour remains firm and we intend to achieve this through sustainable efforts in capacity building and improved welfare. The Agency is also prioritizing the training of Nigerian seafarers to meet industry needs with an emphasis on specialised and advanced training.”
The president-general of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Adewale Adeyanju expressed his delight with the automation of maritime labour registration processes by NIMASA. He stated that the agency has proved that it is, indeed, committed to improving standards in the Nigerian maritime sector, especially in terms of labour practices and capacity development.
Also in attendance at the event were representatives of major maritime stakeholders, including the Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigerian Shippers Council, Nigerian Immigration Service, Nigeria Customs Service, Commissioner of Police (Apapa Port), among others.
