General
NIMASA to Enhance Seafarers’ Certification Process
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has commenced moves to ensure the integrity of seafarers’ certificates issued by the Nigerian government in a bid to enhance their employability.
This was disclosed by the Director General of the NIMASA, Mr Dayo Mobereola, while speaking on the sideline of the commissioning of two brand new tug boats in Lagos.
He said that the agency has put measures in place to ensure that the process of issuing its Certificate of Competency (COC) is recognised internationally.
Mr Mobereola also said that the process will make the issuance of the COC accepted not only in the Gulf of Guinea but all over the world.
The NIMASA chief stated that Nigeria has very competent seafarers, but the process of certification is what is currently at stake.
“I have been looking at ensuring that our process of issuing our CoCs is one of the internationally recognized processes so that it can accepted not only in the Gulf of Guinea regions alone but internationally so that our seafarers can go and work on US vessels, UK registered vessels, Bermuda registered vessels and all of those processes.
“It is a just matter of process; it is not that we do not have the competent seafarers, it is not that we do not have a process in place, it is just to ensure that this process is fine-tuned in such a way that it is internationally acceptable to the shipping companies and that is what we are working on,” he said.
This development followed worries raised by stakeholders including the Nigerian Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association (NMNO/WTSSA) which decried the non-availability of a multilateral agreement between Nigeria and other maritime countries.
According to them, such a development has denied thousands of Nigerian seafarers employment in the seafaring sub-sector of the Nigerian maritime industry.
Also speaking, Mr Joseph Yousuo, disclosed that Ghana has mutual agreement with almost 30 maritime communities hence the recognition of Ghana’s Certificate of Competence.
The agreement, according to Mr Yousuo, has also led to Ghana dominating seafarers’ employment in the sub-region and called on NIMASA to open up talks with other nations on the matter.
On the lack of class 2 and 1 certification, the group suggested that Maritime training in Nigeria should have both their facilities and personnel upgraded to meet international standards for the issuance of these certificates to enable Nigerian seafarers to work on board foreign and bigger vessels.
Mr Yousuo also called for tax exemption for seafarers adding that Nigeria is the only country in the world that still taxes their seafarers noting sailors spend most of their time in the sea but tax is levied on the place of abode.
“Most Nigerian seafarers are unemployed. With the Cabotage regime in force, unemployment of Nigerian seafarers will be a thing of the past. A waiver should not be an option, it is inimical to Nigerian seafarers.
“Some shipping companies mostly trawlers terminate sailors’ employment without due process. We urge NIMASA to call the employers of labour in this category to be mindful of the disregard for the rights of an employee.
“NIMASA as the regulatory agency should as a matter of urgency issue a Marine Notice to all seafarers’ employers engaged in this slavery attitude to take caution about the non-payment of wages and under-payment to Nigerian seafarers as this is the current trend in our maritime sector. A sanction should be placed on any company with such an act,” he said.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Residents of Nigeria experienced a power outage on Saturday, January 11, 2025, after the national grid collapsed.
It was the first that occurred this year and it happened at about 3 pm today, according to information gathered by Business Post.
Last year, the nation recorded about 12 grid collapse that almost embarrassed the government, which later set up a team to look into the causes of the frequent collapse of the grid.
It was later that today’s incident occurred after power generation went down from 2,111.01 megawatts at 2:00 pm to about 390.20 megawatts by 4:55 pm.
This development caused a cut in power supply in most parts of the country, but the situation has been brought under control, with electricity restored in most affected areas.
By Adedapo Adesanya
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday urged the Chinese government to increase the $2 billion currency swap between Nigeria and the Asian nation to enhance trade between the two countries.
He also called for an upward review of the $50 billion aid package for Africa, which China’s President Xi Jinping announced last year.
Recall that China and Nigeria recently renewed their currency swap agreement, valued at 15 billion Yuan (approximately $2 billion), to enhance trade and investment.
According to a statement signed by his media aide, Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President made this appeal and more while receiving the Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, Mr Wang Yi, at the State House Abuja on Thursday.
The President said increasing the level of currency swaps will speed up the infrastructural development in Nigeria and deepen the strategic bilateral relations.
“We still demand more in the area of currency swap. The level you have approved as a government for Nigeria is inadequate considering our programme. If you can increase that, it will be well appreciated. Our bond should grow stronger and become unbreakable,” the President was quoted to have said in a statement
President Tinubu noted that the continent’s infrastructural needs would require more commitment, urging a review of the amount to reflect the continent’s reality.
“I am happy you are part of China’s highest decision-making body. We will want you to use your position to influence improved project funding. First, I say yes to the 50 billion dollar support, and thank you for contributing to African growth.
“The infrastructural needs of Africa are greater than that, and we want to move as rapidly as our other counterparts. All share your vision of rapid development. Africa values the relationship with China, and we seek deeper collaboration for infrastructural development,” he stated.
President Tinubu also called on China to support Nigeria’s bid for a permanent United Nations Security Council seat.
“You are a member of the UN Security Council. We want you to use your influence to ensure Nigeria secures the seat,” the President said.
The Nigerian leader thanked President Xi Jinping for his warm reception during his visit to China last year.
He said Africa, particularly Nigeria, was prepared to meet developmental goals and contribute counterpart project funding
“We are ready to move and reach the various developmental goals. Due to our deliberation, we signed many MOUs and planned many action programmes.
“My visit during FOCAC was a good experience. We signed several comprehensive MOUs during the visit. We planned several programmes of action. As a result of that deliberation, I made sure that immediately after I returned, I appointed one of the best brains available to coordinate Nigeria-China relations, Mr Joseph Tegbe. He will work to actualise various MOUs and promote a greater understanding of developmental programmes.
“It is good that you came at such a critical time. My visit to China was a good experience. Once again, accept my sympathy for the earthquake in Tibet. It was a natural disaster that nobody expected. We commend your government for the rapid reaction to protect lives.
On his part, Mr Yi said Chinese investments in the country would focus on employment generation and infrastructural development. He said the Chinese National Development Bank had started funding some development projects.
He said the Chinese Government would support including an African country in the UN Security Council, adding that “it was a historical injustice by the world that should be corrected”.
“We stand with Africa, and we will not support a country that invades another country,” he stated.
The foreign minister said China would welcome Nigeria’s membership in the BRICS and participation in the global development mechanism.
He said China fully supported Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), for a second term in office.
The minister also lauded President Tinubu for his visionary leadership and consistency in projecting Africa’s needs, which require China’s support.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria has received $52.88 million recovered Galactica assets linked to a former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, from the United States Government.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) disclosed this at the formal signing ceremony of the asset agreement between Nigeria and the US in Abuja on Friday.
Delivering his remarks, Mr Fagbemi explained that $50 million of the recovered assets will be deployed through the World Bank to the development of the rural electrification project and the remaining $2 million will be deployed to the International Institute of Justice to expand the Justice system and also counter corruption.
Mr Fagbemi noted that the asset return marks a milestone in the ongoing collaboration between Nigeria and the US in combating corruption and upholding the rule of law
He said the event is also a significant effort by President Bola Tinubu to address the issue of corruption.
Meanwhile, in his remarks, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Richard Mills called for the monitoring and effectively utilizing the recovered assets by the Ministry of Justice to benefit Nigerians.
Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke has been accused of abusing her power when she was petroleum minister under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan in Nigeria, including accepting financial rewards for awarding multi-million-pound contracts.
In 2023, the United Kingdom National Crime Agency (NCA) alleged that Mrs Alison-Madueke benefited from at least £100,000 ($127,000) in cash, chauffeur-driven cars, flights on private jets, luxury holidays for her family, and the use of multiple London properties.
Other charges against her also detail financial rewards, including furniture, renovation work and staff for the properties, payment of private school fees, and gifts from high-end designer shops such as Cartier jewellery and Louis Vuitton goods, the NCA said.
Since she left office, she has been dogged by corruption allegations but denies the charges.
The 63-year-old woman has been on bail since first being arrested in London in October 2015.
The US Department of Justice has recovered assets totalling $53.1 million linked to Mrs Alison-Madueke’s alleged corruption.
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