Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA says it cannot employ the teeming cadets of its National Seafarers Development Programme NSDP because there are no local fleets available to absorb them.
The Director-General of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh, disclosed this on Thursday while fielding a questions at the 53rd Session of the State House Briefing organised by the Presidential Communications Team at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
According to him, the non-disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund CVFF has made it difficult for indigenous players to enter into the shipping business meant to absorb the NSDP cadets.
Dr Bashir Jamoh, noted that since 2007, several Ministers of Transportation and heads of NIMASA have promised to disburse the CVFF to empower indigenous ship owners to acquire vessels, however, the promises were left unfulfilled.
He narrated that during a visit to the NIMASA last week Friday, the Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo, quoted vowing to break the “jinx” surrounding the non-disbursement of the CVFF.
“If there is a jinx about the CVFF, I am going to break it by getting it disbursed to deserving Nigerians.
“If these funds are disbursed, President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and the Federal Ministry of Transportation will take credit, while it remains a legacy in your administration,” the Minister added.
Earlier in a presentation, Dr Jamoh said NIMASA though it’s NSDP had graduated 2,041 cadets since its kickoff in 2009.
He also revealed that 800 of the graduating cadets have secured placements in various maritime establishments globally.
The Director General also lamented that about 120 of the cadets were withdrawn from the programme while 10 died in training.
According to Jamo the agency also secured at least 20 convictions in the past year with some serving a total of 119 years behind bars while others being given an option of fine.
He explained that those arrested include perpetrators of poaching, piracy and other crimes in the Gulf of Guinea.
Also with Nigeria losing $1bn annually to piracy, Dr Bashir Jamo said NIMASA was working with sister agencies and security outfits to address the menace.
The Director General noted that since President, Muhammadu Buhari launched the Deep Blue Project in June 2021, incidences have dropped from 34 recorded last year to none to date.
Bello Wakili
