Apparently dissatisfied with the level of development at the Maritime
Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron especially with the huge amount of
money given to the academy over the last three years, the minister of
Transport, Rotimi Ameachi and the management of the Nigerian Maritime
Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) have concluded plans to
visit the academy.
This visit was against the backdrop of series of financial allegations
leveled against the Rector of the academy, Joshua Okpo.
The Rector was accused of mismanaging over N13bn given to the academy
over the past three years.
Okpo was also accused of spending over N10 million to organise
Christmas jamboree last year immediately NIMASA released over N700m to
the academy last year as part of the agency’s statutory quarterly
allocation to
the academy.
Aside this, sources from the academy also revealed that the academy
Rector is always on a spending spree whenever the academy gets money
from NIMASA.
The source revealed that the academy rector also favour some
contractors when it comes to payment
“When he has finished the money from NIMASA, he will start running to
NIMASA for allocation even the short courses that the academy is
expected to make money from, nobody is asking them what they are doing
with the money. He equally established centres in Calabar
and Port Harcourt where so much money is spent to run the centers yet
no money is being made from them. We are wasting government money in
this academy”, the source revealed.
However, concerned about this alleged financial recklessness, the
minister of transport and management of NIMASA would visit the academy
anytime soon.
Confirming this to Nigerian NewsDirect, the Deputy Director, Public
Relation of NIMASA, Hajia Lami Tumaka said the minister and management
of NIMASA have concluded plans to start an oversight on MAN Oron.
“The senate and house of representative having oversight over MAN
Oron the way they have over NIMASA but with what is coming up now, it
appears that obviously NIMASA need to get it acts together and
oversight MAN Oron pari persue the amount of fund they have collected
from the agency.
She however disclosed that the minister would visit the academy to see
things himself before the next line of action is known.
“The minister himself will go to Oron with NIMASA management, they
will be visiting the academy so let us wait for the outcome of the
meeting,” she told our correspondent on phone.
Effort to get the response of the Rector on the financial ststus of
the academy proved abortive as cvalls and text messages sent to his
phone were not replied.
When contacted on the status of the finances of the academy, the
Bursar of the academy Folorunsho Kayode said it was only the Rector
that can give the financial status.
He said, “As I am presently, I just finish the marriage of my younger
brother in the village and am tired. Also, am an employee to the
institution and it is only the rector that can talk on it.”
But, the Public Relation officer of the Academy, Sidi Mpadiok said
accusation of financial recklessness against the Rector dosent start
today.
According to him, the rector had been accused of series of financial
recklessness by people he described as disgruntled elements.
“Well I can’t answer for that, I can’t answer for the financial status
of the academy. NIMASA and the Rector are the one that can say thing
about the finances of the academy. Financial recklessness is nothing
new and there has been addressed. Agitator have nothing new to say,
most of them are disgruntled and until we get the detail there is
nothing I can say. I know that NIMASA.”
Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.