NIMASA, Immigration Agree on Seafarers
By. Ebenezer William
A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA and Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS on travel documents of seafarers. The MoU is to enable seafarers get their travel documents in due time as against past delays.
This agreement was reached when the Director General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Isah Idris Jere paid a working visit to the management of NIMASA.
In his response to the courtesy visit the Director General of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh noted the role of the Nigerian Immigration Service in issuing documents to seafarers as seamless and crucial to the growth of the maritime industry in Nigeria.
He however appreciated the NIS for its drive toward quashing the activities of pirates in the country, as it contributes to Suppression of Piracy and other Maritime Offences, (SPOMO) in helping to apprehend criminals and presenting them for prosecution.
Responding to the DG of NIMASA, the CG of immigration identified the issuance of work permits to international vessel crews and the prevention of stowaways as areas of urgent attention and frequent collaboration between both agencies.
Mr Isah Jere made it point-blank that the visit of the NIS delegates under his leadership to NIMASA is a testament that there is a serious need for collaboration between his agency and other related agencies in tackling issues and maintaining national integrity on coastal lines.
