NIMASA had told SaharaReporters that the agency was reviewing the cost of direct sponsorship of the cadets as it was aware that the cost of living has increased.
The Batch 2 cadets of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) on the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) in the Philippines for their Certificate of Competency (CoC) have now been stranded for one month, while lamenting that they are homeless and starving.
Recall that some of the cadets who interacted with SaharaReporters a month ago lamented that their ordeal was due to neglect and nonpayment of their allowances by the NIMASA authorities, which made it impossible for them to renew their house rents, procure their visas and other expenses.
The cadets who said they are about 117 in number lamented that 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 examinations.
Meanwhile, Osagie Edward, Assistant Director, Public Relations, NIMASA had told SaharaReporters that the agency was reviewing the cost of direct sponsorship of the cadets as it was aware that the cost of living has increased particularly in the Philippines due to global inflation.
“We have put in place immediate and long-term arrangements to minimize the effect of inflation on their living standard during the programme. The Management of the Agency has approved an additional $2,000 dollars for each cadet, as extra funds due to inflation.
“This is a short-term measure to cushion the effect. I am sure the Nigerian Embassy will get in touch with the students immediately and the funds are ready to be disbursed. It is a well-coordinated arrangement through the embassy,” Edward had said.
But exactly one month after the agency's promise to attend to the cadets' problems, the cadets said that nothing has been done, lamenting and calling for financial help.
In a fresh account obtained by SaharaReporters, the cadets said, "This article is written with bitterness; one being generated by our sponsor (NIMASA) in a programme that was to last for a period of four (4) years.
"We were supposed to have graduated and obtained our license between the period of 2016 and 2017 respectively for batches 1 & 2, but we are yet to achieve the requirement that qualifies us as Licensed Marine Engineers and Navigators.
"The agency prefers to spend money on propaganda and false information to mislead the public of their inability to complete a program they initiated. We have documented records of expenses we have made while entering the Philippines between the period of March 2022 until present
"We also have voice record from our sponsor threatening us of them shutting down the programme because we exposed them on social media and other respectful platforms. All expenses which include; PCR test before our and after seven days of isolation. Isolation booking expenses, three weeks of living in a foreign land without funds from our sponsors, accommodation and feeding. All of which the agency says it isn’t their responsibility and refuses to reimburse us despite telling us to go ahead and that funds await us on our arrival.
"In Manila, Philippines; recently, Dr. Bashir Jamor (Director General/CEO, NIMASA, stated on News media all over the country of them splashing extra funds of $2000 on each cadet present in the Philippines to soften the cost inflation; funds of which we haven’t received.
"We have been expecting a fact finding team as they stated on News media platforms across the country that would visit the Philippines to check on the rise of cost of living, feeding and trainings one of which they haven’t arrived until this present day and ignore all our emails.
"We were given the sum of $6564 which we pleaded aren’t enough for a period of six (6) months for our accommodations, medicals, transportation, feeding and trainings of only basic courses for the licensure examination without advance trainings such as:
"Basic Training (BT); Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats: Medical First Aid; Advanced Fire Fighting; BTOCT; BTLGT; Advance Training for Oil Tanker; Advance Training for Chemical; Advance Training for Liquified Gas; Engine Resource Management (ERM); Human Element Leadership & Managements.
"Our sponsors' responses have been of threats and publishing of false articles that all expenses such as our accommodation, feedings, school fees, e.t.c, have all been paid for.
"We are undergoing trainings for board examination, none of which is handled by any university, only by the Maritime Authorities of the Federal Republic of Philippines.
"We call on all NEWS media agencies and appropriate authorities to look into this as our visas are about to expire and we have no funds to process our documents and advance trainings."