The Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has stated that there can be no maritime sector without seafarers.
He stated this as NIMASA joined the rest of the world in commemorating the International Day of Seafarers.
Peterside stated this during a joint visit to the Apapa Port in Lagos with members of the National Seafarers Welfare Board.
A statement from the agency quoted Peterside, who was represented by the Head, Corporate Communications of NIMASA, Mr. Isichei Osamgbi, as saying that seafarers were indispensable in realising a virile maritime sector globally.
He said, “Let me assure you of our commitment to a better condition of living for seafarers and our resolve to continue to engage in human capacity development, so that you can also compete favourably with your counterparts internationally.
“Your challenges are our challenges, just as your successes are our successes; we are together in the voyage of steering the ship of the Nigerian maritime sector to greater heights in line with global best practices.
Peterside urged stakeholders and maritime labour employers to ensure that the welfare of seafarers was topmost on their priority list, while advising them to implement all instruments relating to the welfare of seafarers in line with global best practices.
“This year’s event with its theme: ‘Seafarers Matter’, is aimed at demonstrating the importance of the seafaring profession to the growth and development of the maritime sector globally,” the statement read in part.
It added that as part of the activities marking the day, NIMASA visited seafarers on-board some vessels.
