NIMASA sends fact finding mission to Philippines

Following pretest embarked upon by cadets of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), in the Philippines, the agency on Saturday, said it will embark on a fact-finding mission to the Philippines to engage the school where its Cadets of the National Seafarers Development Program (NSDP) are studying, over their grievances that led to the protest in the Asian country, which was captured in a viral video. In a statement, the agency’s management said the issue surrounding the grievances of the cadets would be tackled from an informed position, as the matter far predated the current administration. The Nigerian Embassy in Manila, Philippines had criticised the Batch 2 cadets under the National Seafarers Development Program (NSDP) for displaying total disregard for the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on whose sponsorship they were in the Philippines to study.

NIMASA in reaction to the unsavoury development said “We wish to let the public know that we are monitoring the unfortunate development in the Philippines involving NIMASA NSDP 2013 cadets, as seen in a recent online video. And to assure Nigerians that NIMASA has received Ministerial approval for an assessment visit this October to ascertain, first-hand, the issues to fully and finally address them. Our Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Engr. Victor Ochei, will lead the fact-finding mission to the Philippines to engage with the school and the cadets. As responsible management, we must deal with this from an informed position, as the matter far predates this administration. While we regret the embarrassment this may have caused all concerned; we urge caution and avoidance of any speculative reporting until the official outcome of the on-the-spot evaluation to the Philippines is submitted”.

The NSDP Program is a brainchild of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) as an intervention program to train and ensure supply of qualified seafarers from Nigeria. Also recall that in August 2022, the Batch 2 cadets had complained of neglect and nonpayment of their allowances by the NIMASA authority, making it impossible for them to renew their house rents, procure their visas and other expenses. The cadets are about 117 in number. This protest is coming barely two months after the Director General of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh approved an additional $2,000 dollars for each cadet, as extra fund due to inflation. In a press statement issued on Thursday by the Nigerian embassy, a copy of which was obtained by our correspondent,  states that the Cadets were protesting against NIMASA’s neglect and trying to make their grievances and demands known.