“Hold NIMASA Responsible For Seafarers Fake Certification”- Rector Stars Polytechnic

Rector , Stars Polytechnic in Ogun State , Dr. Reuben Ovai has accused management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to be responsible for the increasing number  of fake certification obtained by seafarers’ in the country.

 

Ovai stated that failure on the part of the regulatory agency to allow cadets from private institutions to participate in the Certificate Of Competency (CoC) examination created a vaccum for some seamen to look elsewhere and source for fake certificates in order to remain in employment.

 

 

The Rector called on Nigerian seafarers’ to query the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh and his management team reasons behind rejection of some cadets and students from participating in the competency examination.

 

Ovai who disclosed this over the weekend during the Passing Out Parade (POP) and Thanksgiving service of the institute, called on the maritime unions to query NIMASA on the subject matter of fake certification and reasons behind the rejection of some seafarers’willing to obtain the CoC .

 

He maintained that the Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria should engage NIMASA on the issues and find permanent solution on how to stop fake certification of seafarers.

 

 

 

He lamented that the apex maritime regulatory agency has continued to frustrate private sector driven institutions from participating in the examination which in turn contributed to lull and inacceptability of students to select a career from the maritime field of study .

 

The certificate of competency (COC) is a form of licence every mariner is granted to work on ships. The certificate ensures that the concerned person has the sufficient knowledge and skills to sail on ocean going vessels. … Its validity is directly proportional to the conduct and performance of a seafarer and in Nigeria, NIMASA is the government agency responsible for the issuance.

 

Ovai reiterated that the decline for maritime education can also be attributed to NIMASA failure to encourage the various private institutions with accreditation from National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and  Ministry of Education .

 

According to him, the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) Oron cannot absorb the yearnings of maritime training in the country despite its peculiarities and ideological views.

 

“The regulatory agency is not encouraging youths to embrace the profession because the graduates from other maritime institutions are being rejected by  likes of NIMASA.

 

“When they go for CoC exams  and other documentation they are rejected by NIMASA and that is some how said because it baffles me that the CoC is not automatic due to the fact that you must sit for an examination to obtain it and until you score the required marks before you can be given the CoC certificate.

 

“So why somebody from a private school want to apply and write the exams they will disqualify such a person”,he queried.

 

The Rector disclosed that while the regulatory agency keeps  rejecting Nigerian students from privately owned academy,  some of the cadets are getting recognition from Regional Maritime Academy in Ghana and other shipping institutions in the continent.