Expert says seafarers handle 85% of Nigerian imports

The Chairman, National Seafarers Welfare Board, Chief Kunle Folarin on Thursday said seafarers should be commended for handling more than 85 per cent of goods coming into Nigerian ports.

Folarin made the remark in a goodwill message on the occasion of the Seafarers Day held in Uyo.

He said that the celebration of the Seafarers Day provided opportunity for awareness of their roles, adding that seafarers were major contributors to national economy.

“In 2014 a total number of 5,400 vessels called at Nigerian ports, moved by foreign crew but now we want a change, that at least 10 per cent must be manned by Nigerians.

“Philippines’ seafarers remit about eight million dollars to their government.

“In few months, Nigerian seafarers will do the same when they are fully employed after going through the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) training by NIMASA.

“The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) of 2006 was ratified by the Federral Government. We want the National Assembly to domesticate it so that people will enjoy the benefits,’’ Folarin said.

He urged NIMASA not to relent in training the seafarers as well as policing the nation’s territorial waters.

Also in a goodwill message, Mr Francis Bunu, Branch President of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), commended NIMASA for improving the lives of seafarers.

Bunu said that the union’s collaboration with NIMASA brought about the change which recently happened in the maritime industry.

“The collaboration had also made Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd. to employ 100 per cent Nigerian seafarers to work in the company,” adding that the collaboration had improved on training of the seafarers

The IMO identified June 25 each year as the “Day of the Seafarer’’,

This is based on IMO recognition of the invaluable contributions seafarers make to international trade and the world economy, often at great personal cost to themselves and their families.

The Day of the Seafarer provides an opportunity to pay tribute to the world’s 1.5 million seafarers for the unique and their contributions to the well-being of the society at large.

It is also an opportunity to educate the public about issues facing the modern day seafarer, such as piracy and criminalization.

The Day of the Seafarer was first celebrated in 2011.

(NAN)