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The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has strengthened its partnership with the Mission to Seafarers (MTS) in a strategic move aimed at enhancing seafarers’ welfare, workforce development and the overall competitiveness of Nigeria’s maritime industry.
The renewed collaboration underscores growing recognition that improved welfare standards, professional development and decent working conditions are critical to building a resilient maritime workforce capable of supporting Nigeria’s ambitions in the Blue Economy.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Chairman of the Management Committee of Mission to Seafarers Lagos, Chief Adebayo Sarumi, OON, and the Regional Director of Mission to Seafarers Africa, Reverend Cedric Rautenbach, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to prioritising the wellbeing of Nigerian seafarers through sustained stakeholder engagement.
Represented by the Executive Director, Operations, Engr. Fatai Taiye Adeyemi, Mobereola said NIMASA would continue implementing policies that strengthen seafarers’ welfare while improving their capacity and global competitiveness.
“NIMASA remains committed to improving the welfare of seafarers through enhanced certification processes, capacity development, and policies that promote their wellbeing and professional advancement. We will continue to collaborate with stakeholders such as the Mission to Seafarers to ensure that seafarers receive the support they deserve both at sea and in port,” he said.
Sarumi commended NIMASA’s ongoing reforms across the maritime sector, describing the Agency as a key partner in advancing the welfare of Nigerian maritime professionals. He noted that the Mission to Seafarers remains dedicated to providing pastoral care, welfare services and practical support to seafarers worldwide, expressing confidence that closer collaboration with NIMASA would deliver lasting benefits for those working at sea.
Also speaking, Reverend Rautenbach explained that while the Mission to Seafarers and the Port Welfare Committee pursue the common goal of improving seafarers’ welfare, both organisations operate under complementary mandates. He stressed that stronger institutional collaboration would enhance welfare support systems for seafarers calling at Nigerian ports.
Discussions during the meeting centred on improving seafarers’ welfare, promoting decent working conditions and expanding collaborative initiatives to strengthen welfare services across Nigeria’s maritime sector.
The engagement aligns with NIMASA’s broader strategy of enforcing global labour standards under the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006, while enhancing regulatory oversight, protecting seafarers’ rights and developing a skilled maritime workforce to support sustainable growth in Nigeria’s shipping industry.
