Presidential assent decline threatens funding for maritime university

Following the decline of Presidential assent to the Bill seeking the establishment of the Nigerian Maritime University (NMU) in Okerenkoko Delta State, findings have revealed that some expected funding from key agencies of government might not sail through.

According to impeccable sources close to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), it is important that the promoters of the university ensures they get the nod of the Presidency to ensure that key agencies of government that have roles to play, both financially and regulatory-wise, participate in the NMU development.

“The decline of Presidential assent by President Mohammadu Buhari was a real blow to the aspirations of the NMU. It will be difficult to support the NMU financially if it fails to get Presidential assent.

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“Although, the university has massive support from States within the Niger Delta region, it will still need the support of some key maritime agencies like NIMASA, and to get that, the Presidency has to assent to the Bill establishing it.

“The kind of support the NMU will get from an agency like NIMASA, you cannot compare that to the kind of support it will get from all the Niger Delta states, if they are to combine resources together.

“Don’t forget that NIMASA is a Federal Government agency, and won’t go out of its way if the NMU fails to get Presidential assent,” the source who declined not to have his name in print explained.

It would be recalled that President Mohammadu Buhari, in a letter conveyed to the Senate recently, cited the proposed source of funding for the NMU as the major reason for his decline.

“I am declining my assent to the bill because the funding provisions are grossly excessive and will disrupt the operation of a number of government agencies and institutions,” the letter reads.