By Uzor Odigbo
At least 80% of Nigerian seafarers’ suffered mental and psychological disorder due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the last six months, National President of the Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association, Comrade Bob Yousuo has stated.
Yousou disclosed the figure to newsmen on Friday, at the flag off and distribution of palliative to members of the seafaring union in collaboration with the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) Seafarers Trust Fund Emergency Response Unit and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Some of the Palliatives donated by ITF, Seafarers’ Trust fund department and NIMASA
He further lamented that despite the Marine Notice by the federal government declaring seafarers as essential workers , the hardship faced under the movement restrictions and isolation of sailors can best be described as “prisoners of the sea” during the peak of the COVID19 lockdown
Yousou said :”80% of our seafarers well being was not in order mentally because somebody who is expected to stay at sea, say three or four months on board vessel now extend to nine or ten months is big problem because disconnecting with the family poses serious challenges and danger to his mental wellbeing.
“During this period, I can tell you that a large number of seafarers also lost their jobs which affected their mental state.
“This pandemic made most of them prisoners at sea; it enslaved their psyche and mental state which in turn led to fatigue and depression.
“There is no way a seafarer can be mentally stable while at sea for that long period”Yousou lamented.
According to him, some Nigerian sailors died at the peak of the lockdown but added that no figure can yet be attributed to the lost of lives.
National President of the Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association, Comrade Bob Yousuo
Aside the seafarers, who were enslaved during the lockdown, the union boss stressed that Nigerian ship owners were not left out of the hardship , pointing out that there were massive job lost of employers of labours and employees.
While speaking on the exercise which ITF and NIMASA donated to cushion the effects of the seamen, the President stated that the distribution of the items would cut across the various zones of the union; which include : Offshore, Fishing , Shipping and NIWA .
He called on executives of the various zones under the union to further distribute the items to members and non members aboard vessels at berth in the nation’s territorial waters
Yousou reiterated that the unionisation of seafarers play a pivotal role for workers welfare noting that donations from the international organisation and government agencies should be applauded .
The items distributed to some of the members present at the event include ; bags of rice, hand sanitizers, themometers , nosemasks, T-shirts and faze caps.
Comrade Yousou also stated that some of the palliatives would be transported to other coastal states of the country were some of the members are located adding that the distribution would be a continuous exercise.
He added that the focus of distribution would centre on officers aboard all forms of vessels irrespective of their nationality because the ratings have already benefited from the same gesture courtesy, the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN).
“Our international body called ITF Trust fund Intervention on COVID19 must be commended for this initiative so also NIMASA because they understood the situation of the seafarers during the peak of the lockdown.
“ITF and NIMASA cares for the seafarers and they deserve commendations for the initiative.”
Meanwhile, seafarers present at the exercise commended the regulatory agency, NIMASA and the International body , ITF trust fund unit for the innovation and initiative
