Nigeria Urgently Needs Buckling-Up to Participate in Global Shipping , Says Omatseye, Former NIMASA DG
Former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Temisan Omatseye, has raised alarm over Nigeria’s inadequate preparation for the growing global demand in shipping and maritime services, warning that failure to invest in human capital development now could leave the country sidelined in its own blue economy.
Speaking at the Blue Economy Academy Monthly Ocean Intelligence Brief, Omatseye pointed to ongoing expansions in gas and oil production including Train 8 at NLNG and new private refineries as signs of a shipping boom that Nigeria may not be prepared to handle.
He attributed the current gaps to poor long term planning and insufficient investment in critical infrastructure and training over the past 15 years. As new export terminals for petroleum products are emerging and inland waterway transport becomes more feasible, he stressed that Nigeria’s focus must now urgently shift to certifying and training its maritime workforce, particularly its youth.
Omatseye cited international benchmarks, including the Philippines and India, whose global dominance in seafaring jobs is rooted in robust manpower development strategies , backed by government action.
He asserted that despite having several maritime institutions, Nigeria still lacks global recognition for its certifications, keeping trained personnel off international vessels. He emphasised that it is the nation’s responsibility not individual academies to gain international accreditation and “white list” status to unlock employment opportunities abroad and domestically.
The former DG, called for the federal government to resume efforts such as the establishment of Maritime Institutes in Nigerian universities and invest in specialized training at both inland and coastal levels.
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