Master Mariner Tasks FG To Prioritize Sustainable Development of Marine Blue Economy

By Roland Ekama 

A Master Mariner, Captain Harrison Mailafia, has called on the federal government through the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, to prioritize the sustainable development of the maritime sector.

Captain Harrison, a member of the Nigerian Association of Master Mariners (NAMM), made this known on Friday in Lagos during a brief ceremony held in his honor by independent producers of Port Business on Radio 1,103.5 FM.

The seafarer, who is also a lecturer at the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology, Victoria Island, Lagos, emphasized that the ministry, created two years ago by President Bola Tinubu, should not be viewed merely as unlocking potential but as exploring and prioritizing the treasures of the sea.

According to Captain Harrison, it is unfortunate that the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) currently lacks the capacity and authority to issue licenses to become a Master Mariner in Nigeria.

He added that, to date, mariners in Nigeria are still limited in obtaining marine-related certificates, while other parts of the world issue unlimited certificates qualifying individuals to become Master Mariners.

Captain Harrison revealed that regulatory challenges have always been a major problem in Nigeria’s system, contributing to the pollution of waterways, which have become dumping grounds for refuse and waste.

He explained that MARPOL, a regulation covering pollution from ships, does not extend to refuse and waste from residences, indigenes, and settlers in coastal communities, noting that much of the waste problem comes from unexpected areas.

Captain Harrison urged the government to establish laws and enforcement mechanisms targeting inland waste offenders, pointing out that 90 percent of the population living around the waterways are from inland areas.