ZAINAB JUNAID
The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dayo Mobereola, has rebutted some media reports claiming the agency is on the verge of withdrawing 296 seafarers under the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP), from the Centurion University, India.
Dr Mobereola condemned the viral media reports in a press statement made available by the Agency’s Public Relations Manager, Osagie Edward.
He described the reports as misleading, false, and attempt to undermine activities of the agency. “NIMASA is aware of a sponsored media campaign of calumny against the Management but this will not deter the Agency Management from doing the right thing. We are only carrying out due diligence on the existing MoU to align the processes in the best interest of the Nigerian students.
“We are committed to ensure all the 296 NSDP beneficiaries at Centurion University, India are given adequate capacity development to acquire quality training and qualify as Seafarers employable globally,” He clarified.
Speaking further, the DG emphasized that the agency is working assiduously to close all identified gaps in the existing Memorandum of Understanding before proceeding to the next stage.
“We are not recalling any NSDP beneficiary from Centurion University. We are only working to close out all identified gaps in the existing Memorandum of Understanding before proceeding to the next stage.
“A situation where the Agency entered into a contractual agreement with Springdale Academy of Maritime Education and Training (SAMET) with agreed courses and timelines only to be faced with additional course duration and an alien programme by the agent. SAMET, unilaterally converting the programme without the consent of the Agency as prescribed by the MoU may not be in the best interest of the students.
“There were issues of non-accreditation of one of institution as at the time of the execution of MoU, change of course from Marine engineering to Mechanical engineering without recourse to the Agency, preparing the grounds for additional years of studies and uncertainties for the students, raising issues related to funding, and the various third parties arrangements without duly informing the Agency,” he maintained.
