By: Felix Ikpotor
The Nigerian Institute of Marine Engineers and Naval Architects (NIMENA) has raised the alarm over absence of professionalism and lack of standardization of the maritime sector in the country, noting that some certifications were being ridiculed abroad.
National Chairman of NIMENA, Dr Daniel Tamunodukobipi, who disclosed these at the ongoing 2024 Energy and Maritime Reporters’ Seminar and Awards in Port Harcourt, lamented over poor certifications of boats, which have led to increased boat accidents in the country.
The EMR Seminar and Awards 2024 has the theme; Understanding the Maritime Subsector and Issues in the Coastal Areas.
Tamunodukobipi speaking on the sub-theme; Maritime Safety Concerns and Approaches, urged the government to employ core professionals in order to harnesses the blue economy.
“People are employed in ministries and agencies where they have not competencies. For instance, the newly created ministry of Marine and blue economy has no maritime experts, they have no marine engineers; their website is empty because the people there are square pegs in round holes.
“In NIMASA, the people there are not marine engineers but maritime lawyers; that is why that agency is not functioning optimally as it should.
“Core professionals should employ every agency bothering on maritime. NIMASA and NIWA certify vessels that cannot meet international best standards, because the people in these regulatory agencies are not professionals.
“Certifications from Nigeria are ridiculed abroad. During my PhD in South Korea, the Koreans kept wondering why marine engineers in Nigeria were unprofessional and inept. Unfortunately, the people they were referring to were not marine engineers but people who found themselves into the sector through cronyism. For instance, NPA put people with just WASSCE certificate on board, people who have no training on marine engineering.
“If the government and regulators partner with the academia to develop local technologies, Nigeria will be better off.”
NIMENA also decried pollution and marine debris on waterways, saying “Security agencies contribute grately pollution of the maritime environment. Instead of arresting suspected oil thieves, they will rather airstrike the site and these fires will burn for days polluting the land, air, water and the entire ecosystem. It is unheard of that people pour petrol and bomb a rat, as it is been done in part of the world.”
Earlier, the Chairman of NUJ in Rivers State, Mr Stanley Job Stanley, challenged maritime reporters to draw government attention to the seaport in Rivers State to ensure their maximum utilization like Lagos ports.
“Journalism, just like medicine and law, has many fields and maritime is just one of them. We are not utilizing our maritime potential in Rivers State. Our maritime sector is underreported in the Niger Delta, I don’t know how functional Port Harcourt and Onne ports are right now, because it is the duty of maritime reporters to report it
“We have seen reports that Lagos ports are over congested and it takes months to clear goods at Lagos ports. The question is, why are importers not using Rivers Port that are not congested? Why is the seaports here not functioning like Lagos ports? And if they are working, why is it not reported?”
Also, Chairman of Energy and Maritime Reporters Corps, Mr Martins Giadom, urged stakeholders to take a significant step towards promoting the maritime sector’s growth in Rivers State, calling for collaboration with critical stakeholders.
Giadom, emphasized the need for collective effort to develop the sector and highlighted EMR’s commitment to building a strong maritime, oil, and gas industry in the country, particularly in the South-South zone.
“We seek active collaboration from critical stakeholders, including NIMENA, MACBAN, CFRRRN, MWUN, NIMASA, NIWA, Customs, Indorama Petrochemicals, NPA, clearing agents, terminal operators, Shippers Council, to support the maritime subsector,” Giadom urged.
The event featured a keynote lecture delivered by Dr. Egben Okore, representing Charkin Maritime & Offshore Safety Centre’s Managing Director, Dr. Charles Wami. The lecture focused on grooming industry specialists to meet national and international reporting standards.
EMR recognized Elshcon Nigeria’s Executive Chairman, Chief/Dr. Emi Membere-Otaji, for his outstanding contributions to the maritime industry. The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, was also honored for their support.
Established in 2015, EMR has consistently promoted the maritime sector through seminars, workshops, and awards. This year’s event aimed to enhance maritime reporting standards in the South-South region.
Stakeholders praised EMR’s initiative. “We commend EMR’s efforts to promote the maritime sector,” said Dr. Emi Membere-Otaji. Dr. Egben Okore added, “Collaboration is key to unlocking the sector’s potential.”
This development is expected to foster growth and investment in Rivers State’s maritime sector, positioning it for national and international competitiveness.
Key stakeholders in attendance included representatives from NIMENA, MACBAN, CFRRRN, MWON, Customs, Indorama Petrochemicals, and Eastern Ports.
The event marked a significant milestone in EMR’s quest to propel the maritime sector’s growth, demonstrating the organization’s dedication to promoting economic development in Rivers State.
