Stakeholders in the maritime sector have accused the Federal Government of neglect of shipping sub- sector of the industry resulting in the domination of the seafaring business by foreigners.
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Speaking at a one day seminar organised by the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) to mark the World's Seafarers' Day in Lagos, stakeholders also disclosed that the lack of data in the sector makes it impossible to know the exact number of seafarers in the country.
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A master mariner and Managing Director in charge of port operations for Dangote Port, Capt Joshua Oyewunmi, lamented the ugly condition of Nigerian seamen despite their contribution to the country's economy. Oyewunmi said in the sixties, data on seafarers were intact but not any more. He explained that it is a shame that there are no data on Nigerian seafarers.