The computerized platform for maritime labor registration and the distribution of biometric identity cards to dockworkers were both introduced on Tuesday by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, or NIMASA.
The e-platform was created out of the need to create an independent, reliable, integrated information, verification, and communication platform that would serve as a system database generation on maritime labor in Nigeria, according to the agency’s Director General, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, who presided over the event in Lagos. Jamoh also said that the e-platform was a major step towards achieving full automation of all its processes.
Jamoh noted that the development of automation processes would benefit the industry in terms of time savings, thus improving on service delivery, as well as building capacity of the maritime labor workforce, who was represented by the agency’s Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Engr. Victor Ochei.
Je said, “I am particularly delighted about the prospect of eliminating the time consuming process of seafarers and employers registration which is what the e-platform would provide. It is further expected that the e-platform would promote a seamless registration process that would bring about will culminate with the issuance of biometric identity cards to seafarers and dockworkers”.
Dr. Jamoh continued by saying that NIMASA was still dedicated to enhancing the skills of Nigerian seafarers and dockworkers in order to raise the status of the nation’s marine industry within the committee of maritime states.
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He continued: “I wish to reiterate the agency’s commitment towards actualising its mandate as provided in the enabling Act. Our resolve to make life meaningful to the entire maritime labour remains firm and we intend to achieve this through sustainable efforts in capacity building and improved welfare. The agency is also prioritizing the training of Nigerian seafarers to meet industry needs with emphasis on specialized and advanced trainings”.
Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, President General of the Marine Workers Union of Nigeria, or MWUN, expressed his happiness with the automation of the maritime labor registration procedures.
