The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside has appealed for Nigerian seafarers to be placed onboard Korean vessels operating in the Nigerian maritime domain.
Dr. Dakuku made this plea during a courtesy visit by the Korean Consul General to Nigeria, Mr. Lee Younghoan to NIMASA, as he noted that Nigeria has a pool of qualified seafarers and other competent maritime personnel that could adequately serve the global maritime industry.
Recognising the strategic position of Korea as a great ship building nation, he appealed to the Consul General on the need for qualified Nigerian seafarers to be placed onboard Korean vessels operating in the Nigerian maritime environment.
The NIMASA DG also emphasized the need to strengthen the strategic partnership between Nigeria and the Republic of Korea in the maritime industry, as he noted that the two countries would derive mutual benefits from such relationship.
Dr. Peterside also reiterated the Agency’s commitment to tackling the daunting menace of piracy and other related forms of criminal activities at sea.
“Nigeria is poised to tackle the menace of piracy and we have recorded great successes in the past three months and our vision is to have safe and secure oceans with zero piracy activities in the next one year”, the DG stated.
Earlier in his address, the Consul General, Mr. Lee Younghoan commended the Agency for its efforts in fighting piracy activities on the nation’s waterways and also appealed for more surveillance and security in safeguarding lives and property on the nation’s waterways.
He assured the DG of the readiness of the Korean Government to support Nigeria especially in the areas of safety and security.
