The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote the mental health and wellbeing of Nigerian seafarers and cadets.
The agreement was signed during a three-day Seafarers’ and Cadets’ Wellbeing Awareness and Train the Trainers Programme themed “Stress: Understanding, Early Management and Coping.”
NIMASA Director-General, Dr Dayo Mobereola, said the partnership would strengthen capacity building and integrate wellbeing training into maritime education curricula, making mental health an essential part of preparing seafarers for life at sea.
Mobereola, represented by the Executive Director of Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Jibril Abba, said the programme would equip maritime training institutions, agency officials and union representatives with skills to identify and manage stress and provide psychological first aid.
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He highlighted the psychological challenges associated with working at sea, including stress, anxiety, depression and burnout.
Citing a 2019 study commissioned by the ITF in collaboration with Yale University, he said one in four seafarers surveyed showed signs of depression, while approximately one in six exhibited signs of anxiety.
ITF Africa Regional Secretary, Safiyanu Dauda Mohammed, who signed the MoU on behalf of the federation, described the agreement as the first of its kind between the ITF and an African country.
He stressed the need to prioritise seafarers’ welfare and mental health to address anxiety and depression among maritime workers.
Similarly, President-General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Francis Bunu, welcomed the agreement, describing it as a significant development for Nigerian seafarers and emphasising the importance of mental wellbeing for safe and effective operations at sea.
