Nigerian seafarers have over the years expressed worry over the continued rejection of the CoC issued by NIMASA globally
By Uzor Odigbo
The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr Bashir Jamoh has signed the Certificate of Competency (CoC) of Seafarers.
Dr Jamoh who announced this on Wednesday stressed that the agency is now effecting its policy on Reciprocity on matters of Certificate of Competency, implying that any country that fails to recognize Nigeria’s COC, such actions would be reciprocated by Nigeria.
thenicheng.com recalls that Nigerian seafarers have over the years expressed worry over the continued rejection of the CoC issued by NIMASA globally, stressing the need for urgent government intervention to find a solution to the problem.
But while signing off on the 2022 certificates, Dr Jamoh said this would be a thing of the past, even as he assured Nigerian Seafarers of adequate placement onboard vessels.
He said “With NIMASA’s Policy of Reciprocity on matters of Certificate of Competency, Nigeria is taking a stand with our seafarers and making it clear that we shall not allow our products to be undermined & underpaid onboard vessels of ours and other flags. Signing off on this year’s COCs”
In May 2022 while receiving Chairman of Starz Group in Lagos, Dr Jamoh had stated that NIMASA is providing the required regulations to ensure that certificates earned from Institutes in Nigeria are recognized globally.
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“When we are satisfied that all requirements have been met, we will then adopt the reciprocity rule in recognition of certificates. NIMASA will not recognize the Certificates issued by Maritime Administrations of Non-friendly nations whose decision not to recognize certificates issued in Nigeria are unjustifiable,” he said.
In July 2022, President of the Merchant Navy Union in Nigeria, Eng Bob Youso had called on the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to conduct an inspection and prove that Nigeria is due to have unlimited certificates, as most of the certificates the nation’s seafarers have are the NCV (Near Coastal Voyage), which is limiting them to be recognised globally.
Yousuo urged NIMASA to have bilateral agreements with other maritime nations to recognise the CoC issued by Nigeria and reverse the worrisome trend.
