By Ngozi Onyeakusi

 

 

All roads lead to oil rich town of Onne, Rivers State, on Thursday, June 29 where seafarers are to celebrate this years’ edition of World Seafarers Day 2017.

The theme for the year’s event is “Seafarers Matter” World Seafarers Day is celebrated globally on the 25th of June annually and Nigeria as a maritime nation is not an exception.

Last year’s celebration was held in Lagos where maritime unions, maritime academies and government institutions were in attendance to grace the occasion on the way forward to better the lots of seafarers.

According to them, foreign sailors still play dominance role in Nigerian waters while the Cabotage Act has failed to put local content first.

However, Nigerian seafarers have called for the cancellation of the event saying there is nothing worthy of celebration in Nigeria.

They accused the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) of failing seafarers since its establishment.

The sailors noted that the agency does not have the wherewithal to provide an enabling environment for seafarers, adding that the current Director General, Dakuku Peterside, has joined the list of leaders who promised and failed the seafarers.