Maritime Students Urge NIMASA To Ease Certification Requirements
The Maritime Students for Tinubu and Hamzat Movement (MSTM) has urged the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to introduce transitional arrangements and financial relief for seafarers affected by new certification requirements under the Merchant Shipping Regulations 2025.
The movement warned that the implementation of the new regulations could impose additional financial and administrative burdens on maritime students and young professionals seeking to obtain the qualifications required to practise in the industry.
It also called on the Lagos State Government to establish a dedicated Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to coordinate the state’s maritime resources, create employment opportunities and improve youth participation in the sector.
The convener of MSTM, Omotayo Temitope, made the appeals during the movement’s inaugural meeting, town hall engagement and press conference in Lagos.
Temitope said the movement supported strict professional standards but maintained that regulatory changes should be implemented in a manner that would not unnecessarily hinder aspiring maritime officers.
He explained that a circular on the implementation of the Merchant Shipping Regulations 2025 had introduced additional course and certification requirements, creating financial and administrative difficulties for affected seafarers.
“While we firmly support high professional standards, the immediate human and financial burden of regulatory shifts must not fall entirely on students and young professionals,” he said.
He stressed that the movement was not advocating shortcuts or a relaxation of professional standards but wanted the authorities to consider the circumstances of those affected by the new requirements.
Temitope urged NIMASA to engage maritime institutions, student representatives and seafarer associations to identify and document cases of hardship arising from the implementation of the regulations.
He also called for subsidised access to newly mandated courses and structured relief measures to address outstanding certification challenges.
According to him, the measures would help maintain professional standards while preventing the new requirements from creating additional barriers for young people seeking careers in the maritime industry.
MSTM seeks greater youth participation in Blue Economy
Temitope also expressed confidence in the efforts of the Lagos State Government to harness its marine and aquatic resources, particularly through initiatives associated with the Special Adviser to the Governor on Blue Economy, Oluwadamilola Emmanuel.
He cited the Omi EKO Project as an example of the opportunities available to Lagos in marine transportation, tourism, fisheries, environmental sustainability and commercial enterprise.
However, he urged the state government to ensure that maritime students, cadets and residents of riverine communities benefited directly from such initiatives.
He called for practical training opportunities, cadetship placements aboard vessels and clearly defined employment pathways to equip young people with the skills and experience needed to participate effectively in the maritime sector.
Movement proposes dedicated ministry
The National Coordinator of MSTM, Oyewale Elijah Omokoyejo, called on the Lagos State Government to consider establishing a Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to provide coordinated oversight of the state’s maritime resources.
Omokoyejo said Lagos’ extensive coastline, inland waterways, port infrastructure and riverine communities required a comprehensive administrative framework that extended beyond water transportation.
He explained that a dedicated ministry could coordinate inland shipping, fisheries and aquaculture, marine tourism, environmental protection, offshore logistics and youth skills development.
According to him, the proposed ministry would also strengthen the connection between maritime education and employment by linking academic training with practical industry experience and professional opportunities.
He added that a unified policy framework would help the state maximise its maritime resources, support economic activities and expand opportunities for young people.
MSTM launches three-month statewide engagement
Speaking on the movement’s political orientation, Omokoyejo said MSTM supported the political vision of President Bola Tinubu and Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, while emphasising that its activities would extend beyond electoral engagements.
He said the movement intended to establish a sustainable platform for addressing the practical challenges confronting maritime students and young professionals, irrespective of political cycles.
“Political support gives the movement a platform to engage, but service to maritime students is what gives that platform true meaning,” Omokoyejo said.
He identified limited access to sea-time opportunities, certification difficulties and post-graduation unemployment as major challenges requiring sustained intervention by government and industry stakeholders.
To address the issues, he announced the commencement of a three-month statewide engagement campaign covering maritime institutions, technical colleges and riverine communities across Lagos State.
The campaign will involve campus visits, town hall meetings and community consultations aimed at documenting the experiences and concerns of cadets, marine engineering students and young people in underserved coastal communities.
Omokoyejo said the exercise would provide a platform for young people to present their concerns directly and ensure that their needs were reflected in policy discussions.
He disclosed that the findings would be compiled into a document to be known as the Maritime Students Agenda, which would outline the priorities of maritime students and provide a basis for engagement with government and industry stakeholders.
The document is expected to address challenges relating to maritime education, professional certification, practical training and employment opportunities.
In a joint declaration, Temitope and Omokoyejo reaffirmed the movement’s commitment to bridging the gap between student advocacy, government policies and maritime industry development.
They maintained that the growth and resilience of Nigeria’s maritime and Blue Economy sector would depend partly on the effective training, support and integration of young people into the industry.
