The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has expressed strong confidence in the recently launched Maritime Labour E-Platform, describing it as a game-changer for efficiency, transparency, and global competitiveness in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
This assurance came during a sensitization workshop held in Lagos, where stakeholders were taken through practical demonstrations of the new digital system.
The workshop provided participants with hands-on experience on how to register, verify, and obtain identity cards for seafarers and dockworkers using the NIMASA portal. Attendees were also briefed on support structures put in place to ensure seamless adoption of the platform, including user training, cybersecurity measures, and a phased rollout strategy designed to minimize disruptions.
NIMASA’s Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Mr. Jibril Abba, emphasized that the platform is central to the Agency’s drive for digital transformation. Represented by the Director, Maritime Labour Services Department, Mr. Ibrahim Umar Sidi, he explained that the system builds on the success of the 2022 dockworkers’ registration exercise.
“Our digital transformation is underway. This year, we launched the Maritime Labour E-Platform, building on the success of the 2022 dockworkers’ registration. It is a modern, integrated system for registering and verifying seafarers, dockworkers, employers, and other stakeholders,” he stated.
According to him, the introduction of secure biometric identity cards and centralized digital records will eliminate paperwork, speed up processing, and provide reliable real-time data. He added that the innovation strengthens Nigeria’s compliance with the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) and enhances the nation’s competitiveness in the global Blue Economy.
Mr. Abba also highlighted that the initiative aligns with the Agency’s mandate.
“This platform directly fulfils our responsibility under Section 27(1)(a) of the NIMASA Act 2007, which requires us to document and maintain a register of every maritime worker and operator. It also meets our obligations under the MLC 2006, often called the ‘Seafarers’ Bill of Rights,’” he said.
The Federal Government officially unveiled the Maritime Labour E-Platform in June 2025 during the Day of the Seafarer celebration in Port Harcourt.
At the launch, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, described the platform as “a transformative tool “
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