The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the welfare and wellbeing of the country’s seafarers through stronger collaboration with key maritime stakeholders.

The Director-General of NIMASA, Dr Dayo Mobereola, made this known while receiving the Chairman, Management Committee of Mission to Seafarers (MTS) Lagos, Adebayo Sarumi and the Regional Director, Mission to Seafarers Africa, Cedric Rautenbach, on a courtesy visit to the Agency’s headquarters in Lagos.

The visit provided an opportunity for both organisations to discuss issues bordering on seafarers’ welfare, decent working conditions and areas of mutual collaboration aimed at enhancing the wellbeing of seafarers and strengthening welfare support services within Nigeria’s maritime sector.

Mobereola, who was represented by the Executive Director, Operations, NIMASA, Fatai Adeyemi, reiterated the Agency’s resolve to continue implementing policies and initiatives that enhance the welfare and professional development of Nigerian seafarers.

According to him, NIMASA remains committed to improving the welfare of seafarers through enhanced certification processes, capacity development, and policies that promote their wellbeing and professional advancement.

He assured that the agency will continue to collaborate with stakeholders such as the MTS to ensure that seafarers receive the support they deserve both at sea and in port.

“NIMASA has continued to champion initiatives that safeguard the rights and welfare of Nigerian seafarers in line with international best practices and the provisions of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006. Through sustained stakeholder engagement, strengthened regulatory oversight, and policies that promote decent work, the Agency remains committed to ensuring that seafarers operate in an environment where their rights, welfare, and professional development are adequately protected,” he stated.

Earlier, the Chairman, Management Committee of Mission to Seafarers Lagos, expressed appreciation to NIMASA for receiving the delegation and commended the Agency’s ongoing reforms in the maritime sector.

Sarumi noted that the MTS has remained committed globally to providing welfare, pastoral care and practical support to seafarers, while expressing confidence that deeper collaboration with NIMASA would further improve the welfare of maritime professionals in Nigeria.

The Regional Director, Mission to Seafarers Africa, explained that although the MTS and the Port Welfare Committee share the common objective of improving the welfare of seafarers, both organisations operate under distinct but complementary mandates.

Rautenbach emphasised that greater collaboration among stakeholders would strengthen support systems available to seafarers calling at Nigerian ports.