The bill for establishment of
Nigerian Maritime University at
Okerenkoko in Delta State, on
Wednesday scaled second reading
at the Senate, months after
Minister of Transport, Rotimi
Amaechi, announced scrapping of
the project.
The bill sponsored by James
Manager (PDP-Delta) was
unanimously supported by the
senators after the mover’s lead
debate, making case for the
establishment of the university.
The groundbreaking of the
proposed school at Okerenkoko in
Warri south-West local government
area was done by former President
Goodluck Jonathan in 2014 and,
according to the Minister of State
for Petroleum Resources, Ibe
Kachikwu, physical asset were on
site.
However, there has been no law
backing the establishment of the
university.
Addressing the senate committee
on maritime on January 19, Mr.
Amaechi had announced the
scrapping of the project, which
was to be financed by the Nigerian
Maritime and Safety Administration
Agency, a parastatal under his
ministry.
Mr. Amaechi then cited insecurity
in the area, and said the project
was a “misplacement of priority”
because there are transport
institutes in Zaria (Kaduna), and
Oron (Akwa Ibom), already.
Later on June 14 in Uyo, Akwa
Ibom State, the Minister said the
Federal Government lacked the
funds to continue with school; and
that unless the N13 billion spent
on the procurement of the land for
the project was retrieved, the
project stood scrapped.
“Okerenkoko (Maritime University), I am not
against,” he said. “My argument about
Okerenkoko is that land alone is 13 billion
(naira). If you give me 13 billion, I will buy the
half of Lagos. That 13 billion has built the
university already.”
“What to do: let EFCC retrieve the money and
release the money and we build the university.
If they bring the N13 billion, I will build the
university for them. That’s for land alone. I
believe the Federal Government does not have
money. When we have money, we can
continue. The minister of petroleum has said he
would look for the money. Minister, give me the
money and we continue,” Mr. Amaechi said in
Uyo.
But the Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe
Kachikwu disagreed with Mr. Amaechi, saying
he was in support of the project, drawing a loud
applause from the audience.
“First, let me say on Okerenkoko University, I
disagree with the Minister of Transport,” he
said.
“Any facility that is located in the South-South
we should work close to developing it. I don’t
care the circumstances under which you are
placed.”
On Wednesday, the Senate shunned the
transport minister, ensuring the bill for the
establishment of the Maritime University scaled
second reading.
Mr. Manager, the sponsor, argued that
maritime sector had huge potentials and that
Nigeria should have a university for the purpose
of producing capable manpower for the sector
which, as he said, is currently dominated by
foreign interests.
On suitability of Okerenkoko for the project, he
said the area was close to the sea and
surrounded by oil wells.
The move that the bill be read for the second
time was seconded by Fauster Ogola (PDP-
Bayelsa) who said the giving legal backing to
the school would make Nigeria become a “hub
of manpower development in the Maritime
sector.”
He said Nigeria would be the first to have
maritime university in West Africa once the bill
received approval of the National Assembly
ultimately.
Gbenga Ashafa (APC-Lagos) and Jibrin Barau
(APC-Kano) also supported the bill.
After the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, called
the voice vote and the Senators unanimously
responded ‘ayes’, Mr. Saraki ruled the bill be
referred to the committee on tertiary education
and Tetfund.
The committee was asked to report back in four
weeks.
Also, the Senate made progress on the bill to
make the Maritime Academy in Oron, Akwa
Ibom State a degree awarding institution. The
bill, proposed by Effiong Nelson (PDP-Akwa
Ibom) was read for the second time.

www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/215507-breaking-senate-shuns-amaechi-passes-maritime-university-bill.html

Thank God. We can now get ready to move to site.