The maritime industry has remained the global hub of economic development, job creation and other maritime activities for the maritime nations. Nigeria by geographical location and divine providence ought to have been a leading maritime nation at least in Africa. Unfortunately, either as a result of lack of defined maritime policy or non professional people piloting maritime economic activities, the nation is yet to derive benefit from unspeakable potentials available in its maritime domain. In the past, the Nigerian merchant shipping had contributed significantly to the economy of Nigeria and provided numerous jobs for seafarers especially in the days of National Shipping Line (NNSL), dove- tailing to Unity Line.
However, recently the extinction of National Shipping Fleet has left a generational gap with the younger and upcoming seafarers roaming the streets and creating insecurity in the creeks as sea robbers and even up to high seas as pirates.
The attendance consequence is what we are experiencing today with Nigerian waters being tagged as one the world’s most insecure maritime environment for shipping activities. Further to this, is the diversion of Nigerian shipping activities to neighbouring countries. All of these have not only given Nigeria bad image, the nation has continued to experience economic losses.
Consequently, a group of concerned maritime professionals from merchant navy and retired military personnel particularly the Nigerian Navy came together to form the Merchant Seafarers Association of Nigerian (Merchant Navy Directorate) using Merchant Shipping Act 2007 as an authority. One of the objective of the Directorate is to partner with local and international and governmental organizations in order to re-define maritime economy through trade, training and security. Towards the strategic objectives of the Merchant Navy Directorate, a number of subsidiaries have been created and registered in order to drive maritime industry locally and internationally. It is for this purpose that MND established Merchant Marine Training Academy (MMTA) by partnering with International Universities. The maritime institute has the mission to train seafarers professionally and practically in order to competently perform in maritime related business activities in line with global best practices and with the vision of becoming the leading maritime training institution in Nigeria and the entire Africa Continent with core values of standardization, collaboration and development.
Similarly, the MND has gone ahead to establish and register Merchant Detective and Security Agency. The Agency is to undertake thorough investigative and security action on local and international illicit activities in order to ensure social and economic security in Nigeria and its maritime environment. It is envisaged that the Agency will partner with the Nigerian Navy and other agencies to ensure maritime security in order for maritime activities to thrive in Nigerian maritime domain