NIMASA, ITF Sign MoU on Seafarers’ Mental Health, Wellbeing …Agreement is first of its kind in Africa — ITF
BY FRONTLINE REPORTERS
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) have endorsed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote the mental health and wellbeing of Nigerian seafarers and cadets through training, awareness and capacity building.
The agreement was signed at the end of a three-day Seafarers’ and Cadets’ Wellbeing Awareness and Train-the-Trainers Programme, organised by NIMASA in collaboration with the ITF, with the theme, “Stress: Understanding, Early Management and Coping.”
Speaking at the event, NIMASA Director-General, Dr Dayo Mobereola, said the partnership would strengthen capacity building and support the integration of wellbeing modules into maritime training curricula, making mental health an essential component of preparing seafarers for life at sea.
Represented by the Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Mr Jibril Abba, who endorsed the MoU on behalf of the agency, Mobereola stressed that seafarers’ wellbeing was fundamental to safe shipping. He said the programme would equip maritime training institutions, NIMASA officials and union representatives with the skills to identify and manage stress and provide psychological first aid when necessary.
The NIMASA chief 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 noted that one in four seafarers surveyed showed signs of depression, while approximately one in six exhibited signs of anxiety.
Also speaking, ITF Africa Regional Secretary, Mr Safiyanu Dauda Mohammed, described the agreement as the first of its kind between the federation and any African country, expressing satisfaction that Nigeria had taken the lead.
He emphasised the importance of prioritising seafarers’ welfare, noting that they play a critical role in the maritime industry and require adequate support to manage the anxiety and depression associated with their demanding working conditions
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The President-General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Comrade Francis Bunu, welcomed the initiative, describing it as a significant development for Nigerian seafarers. He stressed that workers must be mentally fit to perform their duties safely and effectively.
Other stakeholders at the event included the National President of the Nigerian Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association, Chief Engineer Bob Joseph Yousuo; ITF Wellbeing Coordinator, Dr Asif Altaf; and ITF Inspector, Mr Hamani Amadou, alongside other maritime industry representatives.
The programme underscored the need for greater attention to the physical and mental health of seafarers, who often work under difficult conditions and spend extended periods away from their families and loved ones.
The collaboration reinforces NIMASA and ITF’s commitment to improving seafarers’ welfare through sustained training, institutional cooperation and stronger mental health support, recognising that a healthy seafarer is a safer seafarer.
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