Skip to main content

LETTER TO MR PRESIDENT FROM NIGERIAN SEAFARERS.

The President
Federal Republic of Nigeria
Aso Rock Presidential Villa
Three Arms Zone, Abuja
Federal Capital Territory
MAYDAY! MAYDAY! A DISTRESS CALL FROM NIGERIAN SEAFARERS
We, the undersigned Nigerian Seafarers, write to Your Excellency with utmost urgency and patriotic concern. Our cry is not just for survival, but for justice, inclusion, and national development in the maritime sector.
Despite being duly certified and qualified, Nigerian seafarers are systematically sidelined in favour of foreigners, in direct violation of the Cabotage Act. The abuse of waivers by officials of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) continues to deny us opportunities in our own waters.
OUR KEY CHALLENGES
1. Certification Limitations:
   The issuance of Near Coastal Voyage (NCV) certification restricts us from global employment. We request a transition to Foreign-Going certification in line with international standards.
2. Visa Restrictions:
   Nigerian seafarers face visa bans in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the UAE—countries with large shipping fleets and employment potential.
3. Absence of Medical Insurance:
   Seafarers employed locally are denied medical insurance, leaving us exposed to life-threatening risks.
4. Non-Enforcement of Cabotage Laws:
   Local companies fail to comply with the Cabotage Act, hiring less-qualified expatriates under questionable practices.
5. Waiver Regime Abuse:
   The waiver system, meant to be a temporary measure, has become a tool for long-term exclusion of Nigerians from maritime jobs.
6. Lack of Discharge Books:
   Without discharge books, our sea service cannot be properly recorded, affecting our career progression and international eligibility.
7. Unavailability of Seafarers' Identity Documents (SID):
   The lack of SID, a critical IMO security and identity document, affects both our employability and global movement.
8. High Cost of Certification:
   The cost of STCW courses and other essential training is unreasonably high, deterring skill enhancement and compliance.
9. Discrimination and Marginalization:
   We face systemic discrimination in job placements, promotions, and onboard treatment—violating both our rights and international labour conventions.
NSDP CADETS’ STRUGGLES
We specifically draw your attention to the Philippines-trained cadets under the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP). Many have completed their training and submitted required documentation, yet continue to face delays in the approval of their Certificate of Competency (CoC) payments—an issue that places their careers in limbo.
OUR HUMBLE REQUESTS
1. Upgrade Certifications to international (Foreign-Going) standards.
2. Leverage Diplomatic Channels to remove visa restrictions on Nigerian seafarers.
3. Enforce Cabotage Compliance across all maritime companies operating in Nigerian waters.
4. Mandate Medical Insurance for all employed seafarers.
5. Ensure Availability of Discharge Books and Seafarers' Identity Documents (SID).
6. Subsidize Maritime Training Costs to improve access to certification.
7. Eliminate Discrimination in the maritime sector by strengthening NIMASA’s regulatory oversight.
8. Approve CoC Payments for NSDP cadets without further delay.
9. Establish a Seafarers’ Pension Scheme to support us after years of national service at sea.
CONCLUSION
Your Excellency, the Nigerian seafarers are not just workers—they are global ambassadors, lifelines of commerce, and defenders of Nigeria’s economic sovereignty. We seek your urgent intervention to correct these injustices and reposition Nigeria’s maritime workforce for sustainable growth and global competitiveness.
We remain hopeful that under your visionary leadership, Nigerian seafarers will find renewed dignity, inclusion, and opportunity.
Thank you for your attention and swift action.
Yours sincerely,
All Nigerian Seafarers
Compiled by:
ENGR Charles David Lapmoen
Maritime Expert
CC:
- Hon. Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola
- Hon. Minister of Transportation
- Director-General, NIMASA
- Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA)
- Rector, Maritime Academy of Nigeria

Comments

Post a Comment

Most Read

Drama in Kwalla as Motorcycle is stolen in Police Station. See details 👉👉

A motorcycle was snapped up by an unknown  person(s) in the office of the Nigeria Police Force, Kwalla . The motorcycle, a Jincheng model belonging to one Naanman of Tugunwan Street in Kwalla town of Quaan-Pan LGA was stolen sometimes in November 2021 when the owner went to the police station to report an incident. The Nigeria Police Force Outpost in Kwalla in conjunction with the Quaan-Pan Divisional Headquarters Baap instantly mount strategies to recover the stolen bike and reports have just reached us that the motorbike have been caught today, 5/1/2022 around 12:05pm. The culprit have just been arrested along with the bike and detained in Kwalla police station with his identity yet to be revealed for the sake of security investigation as he denied not stealing the bike but claimed he purchased it from a third party is said to hail from Kwa town of the same LGA. More details.......
Post a Comment
Read more

2023: Catholics Berate Lalong Over Attempt To Drag Pope Into Politics

August 11, 2022  Concerned Catholics in Nigeria have called for the suspension of Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong for dragging the name of Pope into local politics that has nothing to do with the Church. According to the group, Lalong should be punished for bringing the name of Pope and the Catholic Church to disrepute while giving his reasons for accepting to serve as Director General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council. Speaking as a press conference in Abuja addressed by National Convener/President, Dr Ben Amodu, said the concerned Catholics in Nigeria are alarmed that Lalong would elect to throw caution into the wind by dragging the revered Catholic Church into local politics in Nigeria for whatever it is worth. “The reference to the Pope in his statement for accepting to serve as the Director General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council was made in poor taste and a puerile attempt to drag the Catholic Church into a matter that has no bearing with...
2 comments
Read more