Location of maritime universities in A’Ibom, Delta states will douse tension in N’Delta —Dogara

SPEAKER of the House of Representatives, Honorable Yakubu Dogara, on Tuesday observed that the proposed location of two maritime universities in Oron and Okerenkoko in Akwa Ibom and Delta states respectively would go a long way in dousing tension in the Niger Delta region.

This came just as the management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) kicked against the upgrading of the Maritime Academy, Oron, to a university, but to a degree-awarding academy.

Dogara made the remarks while speaking at a public hearing on a Bill for an Act to Establish the Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko in Delta State and a Bill to Establish a Maritime University, Oron in Akwa Ibom State, respectively.

Dogara, who was represented by the Chief Whip of the House, Hon Alhassan Ado Doguwa, lamented that Nigeria could only boast of 3000 seafarers, “whereas we need nothing less than 50,000 seafarers to help manage the sector for us.”

Mrs Nnenna Obigbor, who represented the director-general of NIMASA, Dr Peterside Dakuku, told the committee that the agency was 100 per cent in support of the creation of the Nigeria Maritime University in Delta State.

She, however, kicked against the upgrading go the Oron Maritime Academy to a university, saying that “Oron Maritime Academy should be upgraded to award degrees like the Singapore Academy and Saudi Academy.”

But her position did not go down well with stakeholders from Akwa Ibom who argued that all that was required to upgrade the academy to a university had been adequately met by the state.

In his presentation, Governor Emmanuel Udom, who was represented by his Commissioner for Transport and Petroleum Resources, Orman Esin, told the committee that Akwa Ibom is the most peaceful place to warehouse such a university.

The hearing, however, took a new twist when the representative of the Itsekiri Youth Council, who gave his name simply as Lawrence, declared in his presentation that the location of the proposed varsity at Okerenkoko was not known to law, but that Okereigho was the right name.

The chairman of the Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration, Hon  Umoru Bago, had to break protocol insisting that he would stand up to explain to the representative of Itsekiri youths.

He told the stakeholders that “I have gone to the affected areas, and it is glaring that they are highly marginalized. I think a name should not be what should be at stake here.

“My friend, I have your petition with me; we shall address it as soon as possible, but what we are addressing here is the issue of how to make the law.”