Nigerian Embassy in Philippines Knocks Protesting NIMASA Cadets Over Unruly Behavior
Dr Bashir Jamoh in a handshake with some NSDP cadets
By DAPO OLAWUNI
The Nigerian Embassy in Manila, Philippines have criticized the Batch 2 cadets under the National Seafarers Development Program (NSDP) for displaying total disregard for the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on whose sponsorship they were in the Philippines to study.
The NSDP Program is a brainchild of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) as an intervention program to train and ensure supply of qualified seafarers from Nigeria.
DAILY TREND recalls that in August 2022, the Batch 2 cadets had complained of neglect and nonpayment of their allowances by the NIMASA authority, making it impossible for them to renew their house rents, procure their visas and other expenses.
The cadets are about 117 in number.
This protest is coming barely two months after the Director General of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh approved an additional $2,000 dollars for each cadet, as extra fund due to inflation.
In a press statement issued on Thursday by the Nigerian embassy, a copy of which was obtained by our correspondent, it states that the Cadets were protesting against NIMASA and trying to make their grievances and demands known.
However, they failed to conduct themselves properly, and acted in total disrespect to the country.
The statement reads in part “The Embassy of Nigeria, Manila wishes to refer to allegations against the Embassy making the rounds through videos on social media posted by some disgruntled NIMASA cadets on the 5th of October, 2022, where they accused the Embassy of refusing them access to the building to protest their grievances against NIMASA.
“The Embassy wishes to inform that the said cadets did not have any scheduled appointment with the Embassy on the sad date which is in defiant to the rules of Estate managements in the Philippines.
“As such, the Estate/ Barangay reserves the right to prohibit persons from entering the premises without an appointment.
“Secondly, the cadets did not submit any formal notification of protest to the Philippine Authorities before they embarked on the protest. This explains why there were a lot of police men present at the scene where the unruly cadets were disturbing the peace of the residents in the area and obstructing vehicular traffic.
“It is pertinent to mention that the officials of the Embassy went to meet with the defiant cadets at the entrance of the estate to listen to their complaints which were delivered in a very insulting and demeaning manner with no regard for the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on whose sponsorship they were in the Philippines in the first place.
“Kindly note that all complaints from the cadets have since been communicated to the relevant authorities in NIMASA and the Embassy waits further directives in that regard” it states
According to them, they are supposed to complete the course within four years but it is now running to 10 years as there have been several delays and arbitrary extension of some of their examination.
NIMASA had announced in August 2022 that it is currently reviewing the cost of direct sponsorship of Nigerian cadets undergoing foreign training NSDP.
The Director General of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh noted that the review of ongoing sponsorship cost has become necessary due to the global inflationary trends which is very pronounced in the Philippines, India and some other countries where Nigerian cadets are undergoing Certificate of Competency (CoC) Examination training under the NSDP programme. The sponsorship covers training leading to obtaining a Certificate of Competency, CoC.
The Nigeria Philippines embassy should be transparent enough with the suffering Nigeria cadets in the Philippines. The aggrieved cadets was well conducted while expressing there denials by the embassy and Nimasa at large to do the needful.
The Nigeria Philippines embassy consular always denied the cadets concerning this case. We have send series of massages with no reply that the money is not enough and we are suffering. They told us before we left Nigeria that our money is in the embassy. The embassy said they can’t release funds to the sufferings cadets except nimasa ask them. Now nimasa and the embassy refuse to funds us properly and we and suffering and homeless. The aggrieved cadets was well conducted while expressing there denial by the embassy and Nimasa at large to do the needful.
The Nigeria Philippines embassy consular always denied the cadets concerning this case. We have send series of massages with no reply that the money is not enough and we are suffering. They told us before we left Nigeria that our money is in the embassy. The embassy said they can’t release funds to the sufferings cadets except nimasa ask them. Now nimasa and the embassy refuse to funds us properly and we and suffering and homeless. Nigeria cadets was well conducted while expressing there denial by the embassy and Nimasa at large to do the needful for them to successfully complete there program.
The cadets only went to the embassy because it’s an emergency, and even before they went to the embassy they had already sent mails severally to the EMBASSY and NIMASA, but they refused to give them an appointment in regards to the emergency. The cadets went to the embassy because it’s an emergency, their landlord is already on their neck, they don’t have money to feed, their visas are about to expire, they have outstanding bills to pay, yet nimasa is forcing people to come back home even when they’ve not completed their COC process. Now the embassy said the cadets obstructed vehicles in the estate and that caused traffic, wish is a total lie. they’re videos on social media, the cadets were standing on the walkway not on the road, secondly, the embassy failed to mention the total amount given to the cadets including the added $2000. How will an agency give their cadets fake health insurance worth €30,000, some got sick and wanted to use their health insurance only to find out that the insurance was fake. Now they gave a total of $6564 which includes the additional $2000 the DG said he gave. Now, how would cadets cope with $6564 to get their COC for a period of 9 to 10 months. The NSDP does not know the process of obtaining the COC In the Philippines before you could register for the COC, you’ll need your TOR (transcript of records), which before you could get it from the school, it will take a minimum of 3 to 4months just to obtain your TOR because you could register and get verification from
The marina, and before you will take your COC exam, it will take up to 6months. Now my question is how will $6564 be enough for 9 to 10 months for cadets? But the agency will spend more than that sending delegates abroad for weeks. It is very shameful
Ok goodday,but we have maritime University in Nigeria,why taking cadet to other countries to study,and u can’t afford their finances,pls nimasa upgrade our maritime knowledge in this country,let other countries come to us for maritime studies pls thanks God bless nimasa,God bless Nigeria.