NIMASA and ITF sign pact to support Nigerian seafarers' mental health

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.

The partnership focuses on training, awareness, and capacity building to address psychological challenges such as stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout. The initiative includes integrating wellbeing modules into maritime training curricula to ensure seafarer welfare becomes a permanent component of life at sea preparations.

During a three-day awareness programme, NIMASA officials noted that the program aims to equip maritime training institutions, agency officers, and union partners with skills to provide psychological first aid. The ITF noted that this MoU is the first of its kind the federation has entered into with any African country.