The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has taken over the renovation of the dilapidated Mission To Seafarer (MTS) centre in Apapa, Lagos.
The Managing Director of NPA, Mr. Mohammed Bello-Koko who visited the centre to see the condition of the centre by himself with a team of engineers immediately directed that renovation work should commence.
Bello-Koko was saddened by level of decay of the centre.
His words: “The physical infrastructure is quite embarrassing, it’s dilapidated, this is not what I expected to see and I am really sad to see this.
“We all know the relevance of the mission, they are to take relevant actions concerning the welfare of the seafarers, and their mental health. They have been doing quite a good job, in recent times, we have had discussions with them and we felt that there is need for the NPA to get involved in the renovation of this place.
“This is where sailors coming into Nigeria from other countries relax and spend a good time, but this is not befitting.
“In Nigeria, the port community revolves around the Port Authority and probably a few stakeholders, so, we would take responsibility, the bulk stops here.”
He stressed that seafarers are integral part of the cargo supply chain, and that their welfare is very important.
The NPA boss disclosed that his organisation constantly partners with other agencies including the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) on the general welfare of seafarers, adding that this is why “A Day of the Seafarers” is marked annually to discuss their welfare and ensure they get all they deserve, especially medical and mental health needs.
“This place used to be one of the best in the world, but today, you can see the current state of it.
“What you are going to see is that NPA is coming onboard to ensure that this centre is renovated, we would give it a befitting look and the necessary ambience and conducive environment for seafarers coming into Nigeria, they would get the same service and attention that they get in other parts of the world.
“This would also help to increase the rating of our port, you shouldn’t come to Nigeria after staying thirty days on the vessel and still be forced to remain on the vessel for another four weeks, just because we do not have the necessary condusive environment,” he stated.
Bello-Koko assured that NPA is going to give the necessary support to the Mission to Seafarers as activities will begin to happen there.
In his speech, Chairman of the Mission to Seafarers (MTS Lagos) Chief Adebayo Sarumi declared that Mission to Seafarers is a global organization with centres established all over the world.
He was saddened that the center located in Nigeria is an eyesore, lanenting that
other government agencies operating in the maritime sector have abandoned the seafarers centre, save only NPA and a few other companies.
“We appreciate the NPA for coming in to render this support, we understand the burden of it, it’s a lot of burden, NPA has always been in the vanguard of everything, a Port Community is a community that shares virtually everything, but it is now becoming only NPA carrying everything, and we are grateful to the Managing Director for not changing that perception.
“Soon, this place would transform into one of the most welcoming arena for the seafarers visiting. They would have opportunities to get in touch with their families, by the time we set up the communication gadgets that would allow them speak directly to their families back at home.
“Remember that NPA is not their employers, but we are only giving them a feeling of being human.
“I have the faith that someone would eventually come and assist us, we have been groping for assistance for so long,” Sarumi stated.
While speaking on the benefits of Nigeria having a befitting Seafarers Centre, he said that this would further lead to removal of the War Risk Insurance Premiums usually placed on seafarers calling at Nigerian ports.
“Some of the Seafarers, when they are coming to places like Nigeria, they usually take war Risk Insurance Premiums on them as if they are going to the warfront, with this, there would not be such things again, and at the level of IMO, we would go with our head high, that we are one of the most welcoming ports of the world, when we say we want to seat in the Council, they would agree that indeed, Nigeria is a maritime nation,” he said.
Sarumi commended Bello-Koko management for getting it right as he is interpreting the dreams of what a modern port should look like.