The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has once again pledged commitment to human capacity development, signing a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Training Centre of the International Labour Organisation (ITC-ILO) in Turin, Italy — a move that has reignited concerns over the agency’s long-standing pattern of foreign partnerships with limited visible industry transformation.
The agreement is aimed at strengthening institutional capacity through technical assistance, training, and capacity-building programmes for maritime personnel and stakeholders in Nigeria’s shipping sector.
Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, said the partnership aligns with the agency’s goal of structured capacity development for maritime professionals. He was represented at the signing by the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Mr. Chudi Offodile.
According to him, the collaboration is expected to enhance the training of maritime labour inspectors, policymakers, and trainers, particularly in the implementation of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006.
However, the latest MoU has raised familiar questions within industry circles about the practical outcomes of such international agreements, many of which have been signed over the years with similar promises of “structured training” and “global best practice alignment,” yet with limited measurable impact on Nigeria’s maritime labour administration system.
Critics argue that while NIMASA continues to engage in high-profile international partnerships, the local maritime sector still grapples with persistent challenges in enforcement capacity, regulatory efficiency, and workforce development — issues that remain largely unresolved despite repeated training commitments abroad.
“This partnership responds directly to our objective of structured and targeted capacity development,” Dr. Mobereola said, adding that the initiative will strengthen Nigeria’s maritime labour governance and promote a safer, professionally driven sector anchored on decent work principles.
The ITC-ILO Director, Mr. Christopher Perrin, welcomed the partnership, assuring that the Centre would deploy its expertise and resources to support Nigeria’s training needs.
The MoU follows earlier strategic engagements between both institutions, with NIMASA’s Executive Director of Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Mr. Jibril Abba, and ITC-ILO Head of Training, Giuseppe Zefola, serving as focal persons. Technical guidance was provided by ILO Regional Adviser, Dr. Amos Kuje.
Despite the renewed commitment, stakeholders continue to watch closely whether the latest agreement will translate into tangible reforms or add to a growing list of international collaborations that fade into bureaucratic documentation without significant on-ground transformation in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
