Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), said it has introduced a New NIMASA Cabotage Compliance Strategy (NCCS).
Dr. Dakuku Peterside, the Director General of the agency, who gave this hint at a media parley recently disclosed that the agency came up with the new order to secure jobs for qualified Nigerians in the Maritime Industry.
He therefore, said that with the NCCS regime, NIMASA will henceforth no longer consider applications for waivers on manning for prescribed categories of officers in vessels engaged in Cabotage trade.
He however, emphasized that, “the era of foreigners taking over jobs that Nigerians are qualified for in the maritime sector is over, adding that the NCCS will reflect a new direction to our Cabotage regime as the NIMASA will no longer consider application for grant of waivers on manning requirements for vessels engaged in coastal trade with regards to 2nd Officer, 2nd Engineer, 2nd Mate down to Able-Seamen, Ratings and Stewards”, he said.
The Agency boss noted that, special applications for Captains, Chief Engineers, Chief Officers, First Mate in the absence of qualified Nigerians shall be considered on merit, and on the condition that such organization will work out a plan to train a Nigerian and thereby introduce a transition plan to ensure that the Nigeriantakes over the job within one year.
According to him, the whole essence of this was to ensure that Nigerians are not deprived of the jobs due them by tendering requisite qualifications for the job.
He said, “l am using this opportunity to assure stakeholders that the Agency will continue to work closely with them”, saying that NIMASA will create a vacuum for support and the promotion of indigenous participation in the Nigerian maritime sector.
The NIMASA boss therefore, called on all relevant government Agencies and International Oil Companies (IOCs) to collaborate with the Agency in order to harness the opportunities available in the nation’s maritime space.
It may interest you to note that at various quorums, Dr. Peterside has emphasised that the Agency remains committed to all the ideals that will help grow the Nigerian Economy, and has continued to engage in several collaborative measures both locally and internationally, which are focused towards the realization of a virile maritime domain.