NIMASA DG Provides Updates on Nigerian Seafarers’ Development Programme
Dr. Bashir Jamoh, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has announced that 375 cadets from the Nigerian Seafarers’ Development Programme (NSDP) are currently undergoing Seatime training. The NSDP, established by NIMASA in 2008, aims to train Nigerian youths as seafarers and naval architects, providing them with the necessary skills to compete globally in the maritime industry.
Speaking during a capacity-building workshop in Lagos, organized for members of the House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety, Education, and Administration, Jamoh shared insights into the NSDP’s progress. He revealed that, to date, 2,476 cadets have enrolled in the program, with 979 successfully graduating and obtaining their certificates of competency (COC).
However, the NIMASA DG acknowledged challenges, noting that 12 beneficiaries of the NSDP have sadly passed away over the past 14 years, and 153 others withdrew from the program. Despite these setbacks, Jamoh emphasized the agency’s commitment to achieving and sustaining safe, secure shipping, cleaner oceans, and enhanced maritime capacity in alignment with global best practices.
In his presentation titled “NIMASA and the Blue Economy,” Jamoh assured lawmakers of NIMASA’s dedication to being the leading maritime administration in Africa and advancing Nigeria’s global maritime standing. Hon. Uduak Odudoh, the Vice Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety, Education, and Administration, echoed this commitment, assuring NIMASA of the committee’s full support in harnessing the nation’s vast marine resources during their visit to Lagos.
