- By Uzor Odigbo
The Nigerian Association of Master Mariners (NAMM) on Monday, expressed dissatisfaction over failure by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Ministry of Environment and National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) to promote the importance of the World Ocean Day celebration to stakeholders.
NAMM also advocated for more awareness campaign and sensitisation by the inter governmental agencies and private sector players to explore the importance and relevance of the World Ocean Day in the country.
The World Ocean Day celebration holds on the 8th of June annually.
Despite the COVID19 pandemic, “World Ocean Day” is yet to get the needed enlightenment in Nigeria , a situation the foremost group of master mariners frowned at the lackluster attitude in protecting the marine ecosystem by the government.
National President of NAMM, Captain Tajudeen Alao in a chat in commemoration to the 2020 edition celebration, lamented that government that would have champion the awareness and enlightenment campaign of World Ocean Day and the significance to a safer and cleaner water have been inactive.
Captain Alao stressed the need for the local fishermen, fish traders, local government authorities and federal government to key in to the importance of the ocean to nation’s economy , noting that human beings are to manage the treasures of the blue waters.
According to him,the agencies and communities need to understand the importance of the oceans , thus urging the media to challenge government’s poor participation.
“NIMASA does not have the muscle to call all the relevant agencies of the government and private sector on the need to champion this celebration and I think it’s a problem.
“Education is essential on issues bothering on international waters. There are so many codes associated to safer and cleaner waters.
“Pollution from the sea, air , human beings and even ship board generated waste and even MARPOL are conventions we should be looking at because the world is a global village. The conventions are put in place for human beings to manage.
“It is very important to celebrate the World Ocean Day like we mark the World Seafarers Day and World Maritime Day in Nigeria because they are all in the same scale. Creating a date to celebrate this event is laudable but we are not doing much on this collective responsibility.”NAMM President lamented
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