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| Capt. Dennis Osah, former President of NAMM |
A former
President of the Nigerian Association of Master Mariners (NAMM), Capt. Dennis
Osah, has expressed concern over the shortage of indigenous manpower to run
Nigeria’s maritime sector in spite of maritime training schools.
President of the Nigerian Association of Master Mariners (NAMM), Capt. Dennis
Osah, has expressed concern over the shortage of indigenous manpower to run
Nigeria’s maritime sector in spite of maritime training schools.
Osah
told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the trend had made
expatriates to dominate the nation’s maritime sector.
told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the trend had made
expatriates to dominate the nation’s maritime sector.
He
attributed foreign dominance of the maritime sector to the failure of the
authorities to accord priority to the quality of training offered by the
nation’s maritime training schools.
attributed foreign dominance of the maritime sector to the failure of the
authorities to accord priority to the quality of training offered by the
nation’s maritime training schools.
“We will
continue to find it necessary to import expatriates to do one or two things
when by now we should have had sufficient manpower to run maritime affairs
within this country.
continue to find it necessary to import expatriates to do one or two things
when by now we should have had sufficient manpower to run maritime affairs
within this country.
“The
schools that are being run; I am afraid, the products that are coming out of
them may be getting a lot of theoretical training but not much by way of
practical training.
schools that are being run; I am afraid, the products that are coming out of
them may be getting a lot of theoretical training but not much by way of
practical training.
“Because
even the facilities that may be made available may not be properly installed.
even the facilities that may be made available may not be properly installed.
“If they
are installed, they may not be maintained, and if they are maintained, those
who are qualified to use them and train people in them may not be there.
are installed, they may not be maintained, and if they are maintained, those
who are qualified to use them and train people in them may not be there.
“Because
they are not being properly paid or the general package is not good enough to attract
them from their present jobs to go into those areas.
they are not being properly paid or the general package is not good enough to attract
them from their present jobs to go into those areas.
“The
schools may not even be properly funded, or if being properly funded, funds not
being properly utilised.
schools may not even be properly funded, or if being properly funded, funds not
being properly utilised.
“We
know what the situation is in this country, with respect to how funds are corruptly
used for other purposes other than for the purpose for which they are meant.”
know what the situation is in this country, with respect to how funds are corruptly
used for other purposes other than for the purpose for which they are meant.”
According
to Osah, Nigeria has failed to put into good use the vast potential of maritime
life for utmost economic benefits.
to Osah, Nigeria has failed to put into good use the vast potential of maritime
life for utmost economic benefits.
“The
maritime aspect of life in Nigeria is quite vast and we cannot really
sufficiently satisfy it.
maritime aspect of life in Nigeria is quite vast and we cannot really
sufficiently satisfy it.
“There
are all these fisheries; those who go to sea to fish; there are offshore rigs;
there are offshore vessels; which service the offshore rigs and platforms and
sea- point mooring buoys.
are all these fisheries; those who go to sea to fish; there are offshore rigs;
there are offshore vessels; which service the offshore rigs and platforms and
sea- point mooring buoys.
“There
are pilotage opportunities in the ports authority for those who work in
harbours and opportunities in NIMASA, in the Ministry of Transport and even now
in schools.
are pilotage opportunities in the ports authority for those who work in
harbours and opportunities in NIMASA, in the Ministry of Transport and even now
in schools.
“Universities,
Schools of Navigation and many companies
like Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, Dangote and Green lines and such other big
conglomerates.
Schools of Navigation and many companies
like Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, Dangote and Green lines and such other big
conglomerates.
“They
have vessels servicing their affairs like bulk cargo, bulk cement, fertiliser,
bulk rice, bulk sugar, things like that.
have vessels servicing their affairs like bulk cargo, bulk cement, fertiliser,
bulk rice, bulk sugar, things like that.
“So,
these are all areas where seamen can fit in. It is very vast.
these are all areas where seamen can fit in. It is very vast.
“The
problem is that we are not sufficiently organised to get the utmost from all
these areas of endeavour.’’
problem is that we are not sufficiently organised to get the utmost from all
these areas of endeavour.’’
