The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS have signed inter-agency memorandum of understanding on seafarers’ travel document.
The agreement was signed during the visit of the comptroller general of NIS, Mr. Isah Idris Jere and his senior staff to the director general of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh in Lagos yesterday.
The two agencies also identified issuance of temporary work permits to international vessel crews as well as preventing stowaways as other areas of cooperation and collaboration.
Speaking during the visit, Jamoh described as “crucial” the role of NIS in enhancing security in the maritime domain.
He added that seamless issuance of travel documents to seafarers is a key component in the nation’s quest to grow the maritime industry.
“Security on land is key to achieving a safe and secure maritime domain. NIMASA appreciates the need to work closely with the Immigration Service to improve security in the maritime domain.
“We need the service to play a major role in issues of crew nationality, seafarers’ travel documents and managing issues of stowaways, amongst others,” he said.
Jamoh commended the contribution of the Service in the implementation of the Suppression of Piracy and other Maritime Offences (SPOMO) Act.
“The passing into law of the SPOMO Act, and subsequent prosecutions recorded under that law has involved working closely with the NIS. That being said, NIMASA will continue to offer our helping hand to the NIS even as we anticipate further collaboration.”
For his part, Jere identified the issuance of temporary work permits to international vessel crews as well as preventing stowaways as areas of frequent collaboration between both agencies.
He used the opportunity to commend NIMASA’s automation of dockworkers registration nationwide to secure Nigerian ports.
“Our visit to NIMASA is a signal that the Nigeria Immigration Service seeks continued collaboration and deepened synergy as we collectively work to address the issues facing us in our coastal lines and in maintaining the integrity of our territorial waters.
“We welcome the Agency’s automation of dockworkers registration and issuance of biometric identity cards as a great step in the task of securing the nation’s ports,” Jere said.
