NIMASA to provide dockworkers with biometric ID card before year end-Adeyanju

NIMASA to provide dockworkers with biometric ID card before year end-Adeyanju

 

After many years of failed promises to provide Nigerian Dockworkers with biometric identification card for easy of movement and data evaluation, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is set to roll out the ID cards.

President General of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Adewale Adeyanju who made the disclosure said the issuance of the ID cards is expected to take place before the end of the year.

Asked how optimistic he is considering repeated failed promises in the past, Adeyanju said his position is based on the integrity of the new Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, who he said does not promise cannot do, saying “Jamoh is a talk and do administrator.”

His words: “If that's the only thing he is going to do for me, Jamoh will do it. I can perceive the smell of the biometric ID card as I am talking to you now. Do you know why? You guys from Niger Delta have a saying, ‘talk and do’, that is Jamoh for you.

“He has done three good things that the past administration under Dakuku refused to do. I said before that if this pandemic has happened during the former administration, it would have been terrible. When I had problems in Port Harcourt with Governor Wike, Jamoh and Hassan Bello waded in; they didn’t play politics with it and I handled the matter maturely.

“I met Jamoh during the Seafarers’ Day and we discussed so many things. So, I can smell the biometric ID card, I am sure that dockworkers will get it before the end of this year.”

In a related development, the union leader applauded NIMASA for the recent marine notice it issued for stevedoring contractors to get back to jetties in the various terminals, noting that NIMASA has begin to pay attention to implementation of its critical assignment.

 He said, “Issuance of the marine notice is to tell you that the new helmsman is an insider and understands how the system works. He knows the problems of seafarers and dockworkers, which are the two major maritime organs for which NIMASA was established to regulate.

“Take a look at the three marine notices he Jamoh has issued since he assumed office, they concern seafarers and dockworkers. The MD NPA and ES NSC recently visited him, to work out modalities to harmonise their operations and to work together for the growth of the nation. Look at the floating dockyard, NIMASA and NPA have planned that no federal government revenue generating asset should waste, these are committed and digital leaders.

“It is not about blowing grammar all over the place, it is about serious economic initiative, it is about getting the system to work.

“When NPA gives appointment to stevedoring contractors, who enforce the law? It is NIMASA that enforce and regulate. I have asked my secretariat to send the DG NIMASA letters of commendation for issuing warning to terminal operators that doesn’t want dockworkers to enter their jetties.”

Were the terminals hiding something?

It’s obvious. There is a NIMAS Act before Jamoh came in, why has NIMASA not been making use of the Act? Less than four months the new man came in he is closing the gaps and has done so much to re-jig the system. Look at the certificate of seafarers, suddenly NIMASA has started to create employment for Nigerians not only dockworkers. Now these jetties can no longer operate the way they like because with the latest marine notice, dockworkers and onboard security men will be involved.