New maritime labour E-Platform will enhance industry competitiveness – NIMASA
By Fruzzy Wuzzy
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is positioning the new Maritime Labour E-Platform as a game-changer for industry competitiveness, using a hands-on workshop with live demonstrations and interactive sessions to familiarise stakeholders with the system’s capabilities.
Speaking at a Workshop Held in Lagos, NIMASA Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Mr. Jibril Abba stressed the importance of the digital platform to achieving global competitiveness, stating that “our digital transformation is underway.
He explained that the workshop practicalized the process of registering, verifying and issuing identity cards to seafarers and dockworkers via the NIMASA portal (@nimasa.gov.ng).
He said: “Practical support measures, including training, cybersecurity and planning a phased rollout to ensure smooth adoption, were also discussed.
“This year we launched the Maritime Labour E-Platform, building on our 2022 dockworkers registration success. It is a modern, integrated system for registering and verifying seafarers, dockworkers, employers, and other stakeholders.”
“By centralizing registration and issuing secure biometric ID cards, it cuts paperwork, speeds up processing, and gives us reliable real-time data. “This helps us meet our obligations under the Maritime Labour Convention and boosts Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global Blue Economy.
“This initiative directly fulfils our mandate under Section 27(1)(a) of the NIMASA Act 2007, which charges us with the duty to document and maintain a register of every maritime worker and operator. It also aligns with our obligations under the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006, often called the “Seafarers’ Bill of Rights for promoting fair working conditions, health protections, and social security.
He also stated that the actualization of the digital platform was in line with the Agency’s statutory obligations, stating that.”
Recall that in its efforts to build a smarter, more transparent, and efficient maritime sector, the Federal Government launched the Maritime Labour E-Platform, during an event in June marking the 2025 Day of the Seafarer in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The platform, which is a digital solution designed to revolutionize the governance of maritime labour in Nigeria.
