Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Nigerian Institute of Marine Engineers and Naval Architects, NIMENA, has raised urgent concerns about unprofessionalism and the absence of standardization in Nigeria’s maritime sector, emphasizing that this has led to international disdain for local certifications.
Speaking at the 2024 Energy and Maritime Reporters’ Seminar and Awards in Port Harcourt, NIMENA’s National Chairman, Dr. Daniel Tamunodukobipi, lamented the inadequate certification of boats, which has contributed to an increase in maritime accidents.
Tamunodukobipi speaking on the theme; “Understanding the Maritime Subsector and Issues in the Coastal Areas” and the sub-theme; “Maritime Safety Concerns and Approaches” urged the government to employ qualified maritime professionals in regulatory agencies.
He said, “People are employed in ministries and agencies where they have no competencies. For instance, the newly created ministry of Marine and blue economy has no maritime experts, they have no marine engineers; their website is empty because the people there are square pegs in round holes.
“In NIMASA, the people there are not marine engineers but maritime lawyers and that is why that agency is not functioning optimally as it should.
“Core professionals should employed every agency bothering on maritime. NIMASA and NIWA certify vessels that cannot meet international best standards, because the people in these regulatory agencies are not professionals.
“Certifications from Nigeria are ridiculed abroad. During my PhD in South Korea, the Koreans kept wondering why marine engineers in Nigeria were unprofessional and inept. Unfortunately, the people they were referring to were not marine engineers but people who found themselves into the sector through cronyism. For instance, NPA put people with just WASSCE certificate on board, people who have no training on marine engineering.
“If the government and regulators partner with the academia to develop local technologies, Nigeria will be better off.”
NIMENA also decried pollution and marine debris on waterways, saying “Security agencies contribute grately pollution of the maritime environment. Instead of arresting suspected oil thieves, they will rather airstrike the site and these fires will burn for days polluting the land, air, water and the entire ecosystem. It is unheard of that people pour petrol and bomb a rat, as it is been done in part of the world.”
Earlier, the Chairman of NUJ in Rivers State, Mr Stanley Job Stanley, challenged maritime reporters to draw government attention to the seaport in Rivers State to ensure their maximum utilization like Lagos ports.
“Journalism, just like medicine and law, has many fields and maritime is just one of them.
We are not utilizing our maritime potential in Rivers State. Our maritime sector is underreported in the Niger Delta, I don’t know how functional Port Harcourt and Onne ports are right now, because it is the duty of maritime reporters to report it
“We have seen reports that Lagos ports are over congested and it takes months to clear goods at Lagos ports. The question is, why are importers not using Rivers Port that are not congested? Why is the seaports here not functioning like Lagos ports? And if they are working, why is it not reported?”
Earlier, Chairman of Energy and Maritime Reporters Corps, Mr Martins Giadom, urged stakeholders to take a significant step towards promoting the maritime sector’s growth in Rivers State, calling for collaboration with critical stakeholders.
Giadom emphasized the need for collective effort to develop the sector and highlighted EMR’s commitment to building a strong maritime, oil, and gas industry in the country, particularly in the South-South zone.
“We seek active collaboration from critical stakeholders, including NIMENA, MACBAN, CFRRRN, MWUN, NIMASA, NIWA, Customs, Indorama Petrochemicals, NPA, clearing agents, terminal operators, Shippers Council, to support the maritime subsector,” Giadom urged.
The event featured a keynote lecture delivered by Dr. Egben Okore, representing Charkin Maritime & Offshore Safety Centre’s Managing Director, Sir/Dr. Charles Wami. The lecture focused on grooming industry specialists to meet national and international reporting standards.
EMR recognized Elshcon Nigeria’s Executive Chairman, Chief/Dr. Emi Membere-Otaji, for his outstanding contributions to the maritime industry.
Established in 2015, EMR has consistently promoted the maritime sector through seminars, workshops, and awards; this year’s event aimed to enhance maritime reporting standards in the South-South region.
Stakeholders praised EMR’s initiative. “We commend EMR’s efforts to promote the maritime sector,” said Chief/Dr. Emi Membere-Otaji. Dr. Egben Okore added, “Collaboration is key to unlocking the sector’s potential.”
