NIMASA Strengthens Welfare Partnership with Mission to Seafarers

As part of efforts to advancing the welfare and professional development of Seafarers, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA has strengthened partnership with the Mission to Seafarers (MtS).

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

In a statement issued on Sunday 2 August 2026, by the Agency’s Deputy Director/Head, Public Relations, Osagie Edward, the NIMASA DG was represented by the Executive Director of Operations, Engr. Fatai Taiye Adeyemi.

Engr. Adeyemi reiterated the Agency’s resolve to continue implementing policies and initiatives that enhance the welfare and professional development of Nigerian seafarers.

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.

“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.

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

He noted that the Mission to Seafarers 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, Reverend Cedric Rautenbach, explained that although the Mission to Seafarers and the Port Welfare Committee share the common objective of improving the welfare of seafarers, both organisations operate under distinct but complementary mandates.

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

The visit also featured discussions on issues concerning 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.

The statement further reiterated NIMASA’s resolve to continue 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.