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 through training, awareness and capacity building.
The agreement, which the ITF describes as its first of its kind with any African country, is expected to strengthen seafarer welfare through improved mental health support and the integration of wellbeing training into maritime education curricula.
In a statement issued by NIMASA’s Deputy Director and Head of Public Relations, Osagie Edward on Monday, the MoU was endorsed during a three-day Seafarers’ and Cadets’ Wellbeing Awareness and Train the Trainers Programme organised by the agency in collaboration with the ITF.
The programme focused on the theme, “Stress: Understanding, Early Management and Coping”.
Speaking at the event, NIMASA Director-General, Dr Dayo Mobereola, said the partnership would support capacity building and the integration of a wellbeing module into maritime training curricula, with plans to make seafarer wellbeing a permanent component of preparations for life at sea.
Mobereola, who was represented by the Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Mr Jibril Abba, said seafarers’ wellbeing was essential to safe shipping, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to protecting maritime workers’ welfare.
He added that the programme would equip maritime training institutions, agency officers and union partners with the skills to identify and manage stress and provide psychological first aid when necessary.
The NIMASA chief also highlighted the psychological challenges associated with life 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, Safiyanu Dauda Mohammed, who signed the MoU on behalf of the federation, described the agreement as a significant milestone in efforts to improve seafarer welfare across Africa.
Mohammed said the partnership was the first of its kind between the ITF and any African country, adding that Nigeria’s involvement underscored the importance of prioritising the wellbeing of seafarers, whose work remains critical to the maritime industry.
He said addressing anxiety and depression among seafarers was necessary to safeguard their welfare and support their performance at work.
Similarly, President-General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Comrade Francis Bunu, welcomed the initiative, stressing the importance of ensuring that seafarers remain mentally fit to perform their duties.
“We need seafarers to be mentally sound while doing their job, and that is why today is a very significant day for the seafarer in Nigeria,” Bunu said.
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 Yousou; ITF Wellbeing Coordinator, Dr Asif Altaf; and ITF Inspector, Hamani Amadou.
The programme comes amid growing concerns over the mental health challenges faced by seafarers, who often work in demanding conditions and spend extended periods away from their families.
NIMASA and the ITF said the collaboration would strengthen seafarer welfare through sustained training, institutional cooperation and improved mental health support, recognising the link between seafarers’ wellbeing and safe shipping.
