FG coamitted to training of seafarers -DG NIMASA

The NIMASA boss who made this disclosure at a civic reception, weekend, in honour of 22 Nigerian cadets trained under the Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) who recently graduated from the Arab Maritime Academy in Alexandra, Egypt, where they majored in Marine Engineering and Nautical Science, said that the federal government was highest investor in the world in training of seafarers.
He said: “Four years ago, I came to NIMASA and met a very laudable programme that has to do with training our youths in seafaring. I felt it must be sustained. It has not been easy but we have to do it.
“I stand to be corrected if there is any nation in the world today, which is committing as much huge resources as Nigeria in the training of seafarers. To train one seaman is a huge cost. NIMASA alone is sponsoring over 2, 500 youths in different parts of the world. The programme is quite expensive but we have to do it. We’ll look for the money from anywhere in order to continue this programme.”
It will be recalled that NIMASA said it has set aside about N408 million for the training of seafarers on board various ocean going vessels in different parts of the world.
It said that this amount was outside the N264 million it has budgeted for another 33 set of students who may join their colleagues at sea before the end of 2014.