By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has introduced comprehensive new standards for the education, training, assessment, examination, certification, revalidation, endorsement and medical fitness certification of Nigerian seafarers.
The reforms, issued under the Merchant Shipping (STCW) Regulations 2025, are designed to align Nigeria’s seafarer development framework with the International Maritime Organization’s STCW Convention 1978, as amended, while strengthening safety, professional competence and the global recognition of Nigerian seafarers.
NIMASA announced the reforms in a statement posted on its X handle on Monday, describing them as a major step towards developing a highly skilled and globally competitive maritime workforce.
Under the new framework, NIMASA said updated National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) curricula in Nautical Science and Marine Engineering Technology had been developed in collaboration with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
The agency said academic programmes at NIMASA-approved Maritime Education and Training Institutions (METIs), together with qualifying sea service, would now be mandatory for officers seeking operational and management-level Certificates of Competency.
It also introduced mandatory Bridging Courses for holders of ND and HND certificates issued on or before July 3, 2026, ahead of the December 2028 transition deadline.
Another major reform is the introduction of a mandatory 15-week Ratings Education and Training Programme for candidates seeking relevant Certificates of Proficiency.
NIMASA further announced the mandatory use of approved Training Record Books (TRBs) for cadets and ratings undergoing approved training.
The agency also strengthened requirements for the recognition and endorsement of foreign Certificates of Competency as part of efforts to ensure that all certificates meet established international standards.
Commenting on the reforms, NIMASA Director-General, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, said the new standards would improve the quality of maritime education and training in Nigeria and strengthen the professional competence of Nigerian seafarers.
According to him, the reforms would also position Nigerian seafarers to compete more effectively in the international maritime labour market.
Mobereola reaffirmed NIMASA’s commitment to developing a highly skilled, competent and globally competitive Nigerian maritime workforce capable of contributing significantly to the growth of the country’s blue economy.
The new standards are expected to provide a more structured pathway for the training and certification of Nigerian seafarers while ensuring that the country’s maritime manpower development remains consistent with evolving international requirements.
