– Seek extension of President Tinubu’s Student Loan to seafarers
Vincent Toritseju
Lagos — A group, the Joint Body of the Nigerian Seafarers Professional yesterday called on the Federal Government to stop the importation of vessels into Nigeria, saying “ that it negates the intents of the Cabotage Act 2007 which stipulated that ships should be built and crewed by Nigerians.”
Besides, the seafarers also called on President Bola Tinubu to extend the recently passed Policy on Student Loan to Nigerian seafarers, adding that many of that need such facility to up grading their self-development.
Speaking at this year’s celebration of World Seafarer’s Day at the National Institute of Sport, NIS, in Lagos, a prominent seafarer, Capt. Oluwasegun Oniye said that Capt. Oniye advised NIMASA management to ensure that the accrued Cabotage Fund ready for approved for disbursement must not be spent outside Nigeria, but within that the vessels can be built in-country.
The Nigerian seafarers who gathered at an event organised on Sunday 25th of June 2023 at the National Institute for Sports Hall located at the National Stadium in Lagos commemorated the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) World Seafarers Day 2023.
At the celebration themed ‘MARPOL At 50’ Oniye also said that about80% of vessels operating in Nigerian waters are owned by foreigners and crewed with 80% foreigners, he said this is a clear violation of the Nigerian Cabotage Act which is supposed to be implemented and monitored by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA.
He advised NIMASA management to ensure that the accrued CVFF Fund ready for disbursement must not be spent outside Nigeria, but that the Vessels can be built in-country.
He said: “If the law says any ship that would sail within the Nigerian waterways must be built here, so why are we importing ships into the country? We are already building ships in Nigeria; all we need is to fine-tune the technical aspects. The approved CVFF should not go out.”
“The maritime alone can make Nigeria buoyant, all these money they are borrowing, maritime can pay it if the potentials are properly harnessed.
“If not that I am old now, I would have applied, because I don’t know when I will pay, maybe my children will help me pay, because the money to sponsor anybody to masters level, like this year, I spent over N3 Million to renew my certificate.
“Nigerian seafarers are not getting paid enough, you just collect salary and you use everything to renew your certificate, and you are not even guaranteed of getting the job back. Let them bring this loan to seafarers” he said.
Similarly, Capt. Ogunsakin Williams sent an appeal to President Bola Tinubu on the Student Loan Policy, saying that Nigerian seafarers are in dire need of such loans.
“If not that I am old now, I would have applied, because I don’t know when I will pay, maybe my children will help me pay, because the money to sponsor anybody to masters level, like this year, I spent over N3 Million to renew my certificate.
“Nigerian seafarers are not getting paid enough, you just collect salary, and you use everything to renew your certificate, and you are not even guaranteed of getting the job back. Let them bring this loan to seafarers.” Ogunsakin said.
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