The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has accused the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) of leaving more than 100 government-sponsored seafarer cadets stranded in Nigeria for years over unresolved examinations, deployment, funding and travel arrangements.
The council said the affected beneficiaries of the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP), some of whom were sent to the Philippines between 2012 and 2014, have completed substantial parts of their academic and sea-time training but are still unable to obtain their professional certification.
In an open letter to NIMASA Director-General, Dr Dayo Mobereola, the IYC urged him to personally intervene and end what it described as a prolonged administrative delay that has stalled the careers of the affected young Nigerians. According to the council, outstanding Certificate of Competency (CoC) examinations, deployment arrangements, funding, visa processing and travel logistics remain unresolved for some beneficiaries.
The IYC said the situation was particularly troubling because some cadets had reportedly been directed to renew their international passports in preparation for deployment to the Philippines, only to remain at home after the deployment failed to materialise. The council also cited previous engagements and verification exercises, including arrangements reportedly made in 2022 and another verification exercise in 2025, saying the issue had persisted despite those efforts.
It called on NIMASA to immediately complete all outstanding academic, training, examination and CoC requirements, release approved funds for examinations and deployment, and provide a definite timetable for the affected cadets. The council also demanded a comprehensive status report showing what remains outstanding for each beneficiary, saying the cadets should no longer be left waiting indefinitely for the completion of a government-sponsored programme.