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The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has expressed confidence that its Maritime Labour E-Platform will enhance the competitiveness of Nigeria’s maritime sector, following a workshop designed to familiarise users with the portal and demonstrate its practical applications.
Held recently in Lagos, the workshop guided participants through the processes of registering, verifying, and issuing identity cards to seafarers and dockworkers via the NIMASA portal (@nimasa.gov.ng). Practical support measures, including user training, cybersecurity protocols, and a phased rollout plan, were also discussed to ensure smooth adoption across the industry.
Speaking at the event, NIMASA’s Executive Director of Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Mr. Jibril Abba, highlighted the significance of the digital platform for Nigeria’s maritime competitiveness.
“Our digital transformation is underway. 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,” he said.
Represented at the workshop by the Director of Maritime Labour Services, Mr. Ibrahim Umar Sidi, Mr. Abba highlighted the operational benefits of the platform:
“By centralising 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.”
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He further emphasised that the initiative fulfills statutory obligations, noting, “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,’ promoting fair working conditions, health protections, and social security.”
The Maritime Labour E-Platform was officially launched in June 2025 during the Day of the Seafarer event in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Speaking at the launch, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, described it as “a transformative tool for labour administration” and a key step toward building a smarter, more transparent, and efficient maritime sector.
NIMASA said the initiative reflects its commitment to leveraging digital technology to modernise Nigeria’s maritime labour administration.
It added by by providing a secure, streamlined system for registration and verification, the E-Platform is expected to not only improve governance but also enhance the country’s standing in the global Blue Economy.
“The platform represents a milestone in our efforts to create an integrated, reliable, and efficient maritime labour ecosystem. “It is part of our broader vision to make Nigeria’s maritime sector competitive, transparent, and future-ready”, NIMASA added.
