By Uzor Odigbo
Labour unions have called on the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dakuku Peterside, to stop gambling with the maritime sector by inviting politicians who have no meaningful inputs and values in the growth and development of the shipping community.
The groups under the auspices of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and the Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association, lamented that seafarers have suffered setbacks in the last three years and the current D-G has failed to better their lots.
According to them, core maritime operators like master mariners and marine engineers are always neglected whenever events of such magnitude are held.
Prior to the event on Thursday, the unions had concluded plans to express their displeasure on how NIMASA engage its immediate stakeholders.
Recall that during the world seafarers day celebration held recently in Lagos ,the NIMASA top brass invited Mrs Aisha Buhari as special guest of the honour; a development the unions described as waste of time.
Sources revealed that the outcome of the meeting between the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) affiliates on Wednesday, maintained that the DG in his flamboyant style of hosting maritime programme needs to be cautioned the way and manner he choose the caliber of personalities for industry events .
One of the source who perfers anonymity, said, “We just have to call a spade a spade because this is not how the maritime industry should go.
“If we continue like this I tell you the maritime sector will be converted to political industry.
“Of what benefit inviting people who don’t have any knowledge about the maritime industry.
“We felt we should let him know publicly for once the importance of our immediate or core stakeholders in the industry that is why we felt we should tell him the bitter truth.
Similarly, the African Day of Seas and Oceans, with the theme, “Harnessing Nigeria’s Marine Biodiversity for Accelerated Economic Growth,” organised by the apex maritime regulatory agency, was queried by the unions ,asking of what benefit can the personalities invited to the event contribute to maritime growth.
Meanwhile, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, at event stated that Nigeria’s rich maritime resources represent a vital economic safeguard and vehicle for the successful implementation of the President Muhammadu Buhari government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), which must be sustainably tapped.
Gbajabiamila said this on Thursday in Lagos at a ceremony hosted by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to mark this year’s , that the National Assembly would also work with the executive arm in putting in place the necessary legal framework for the Blue Economy to engender and protect the Nigerian marine environment and development of the ocean economy.”
On the theme, which echoes the African Union (AU) subject for the 2019 African Day of Seas and Oceans, “Enhancing Africa’s Role in a Globally Binding Instrument on Marine Biological Diversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction”, the Speaker pledged that the legislature would support efforts by the executive to ensure sustainable management of the country’s vast marine resources.
Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, disclosed that the agency had sent to the Federal Government for ratification six International Maritime Organisation (IMO) instruments as part of efforts to ensure sustainable management of the marine environment.
According to Gbajabiamila, who was represented by Hon. Linda Ikpeazu, “Efficient management and sustainable exploitation of the marine resources in our seas and oceans, no doubt, provide a veritable tool for our Economic Recovery and Growth Plan as a country and give expression to our sustainable development goals.”
He added, “We will support the sustainable governance of Nigeria’s seas and oceans and the efforts of the executive arm of government that would see the effective domestication of relevant international conventions of the International Maritime Organisation on marine environment management through legislative enactments.
Dakuku, in his remarks, reiterated NIMASA’s critical focus on the development and protection of the marine environment, saying, “Our efforts in this area have been recognised by the International Maritime Organisation.”
He listed the marine environment management instruments forwarded to the government for ratification to include: the Hong Kong Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009; International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel; the Protocol Relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Oil Pollution Casualties Intervention), 1973; and Protocol on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims (LLMC), 1996.
Speaking also, the Chairperson, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Common Services, Dr. Bakare Wadinga, said maritime security and development were a top priority of the Federal Government in the execution of the ERGP.
The Chief Host, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Sabiu Zakari, said with Nigeria’s over 850 kilometres coastline, the country was blessed abundant resources to back its economic diversification and development drive. Zakari, who was represented by Director, Maritime Safety and Security in the ministry, Dr. Danjuma Dauda, also restated the government’s commitment to the development of the maritime sector.
The event featured paper presentations by President, Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA), Ghana, Jemilat Mahamah; Secretary-General of Abuja Memorandum of Understanding (Abuja MoU), Mrs. Mfon Usoro; environmental consultant, Professor Babajide Alo; and President, Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, Nigeria, Mr. Ibrahim Jibril.
Dignitaries at the event included the Director-General of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Mr. Idris Musa; Rector, Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Commodore Duja Effedua; and Chairman, Shipowners Forum, Mrs. Margaret Orakwusi. There were also members of the Governing Board of NIMASA led by the Chairman, General Jonathan India Garba.