NIMASA DG Calls On Private Sector Over MAN Oron

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has called on the organized private sector to partner the agency in ensuring that the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) in Oron Akwa Ibom State is upgraded as a foremost capacity building outfit in the maritime sector.

The Director General of NIMASA, Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi made the call at the opening ceremony of a one week Capacity Building Programme put together by the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) in Akwa Ibom State.

Akpobolokemi who was represented by the Deputy Director, Public Relations of the agency; Mr. Isichei Osamgbi said that there is need for the private sector to key into the development of MAN Oron.

"We enjoin the private sector to come into MAN, Oron to complement the efforts of the Federal Government because government cannot do it all alone", he appealed.

"We need someone from the private sector to come and build classrooms, buy training vessels for the academy and invest in needed equipment by the academy" he said.

Akpobolokemi disclosed that building capacity is one of the core mandates of the agency and reiterated that the agency is not losing sight of this function.

According to him, the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) is a lauded initiative of the agency in closing up the existing lacuna in the demand for qualified seamen in Nigeria, occasioned by the liquidation of the NNSL.

He regretted that unfortunately many of the State Governments are yet to key into the programme, even as he revealed that only 12 states have so far demonstrated faith in the programme even though it is a 60-40 arrangement in the payment structure.

Another challenge according to the apex agency is the absence of adequate funds from the banks to support capital projects. This according to the DG is as a result of the lack of proper understanding of the maritime sector by the banks which has discouraged them releasing long term loans.

He disclosed that, "NIMASA will embark on a stakeholders sensitization exercise in order to let the banks know what is entails in the maritime sector"

"As a country, Nigeria has infrastructure and human capacity gaps in its maritime sector. Being a developing country, industrialization is yet at its infancy such that building ships is not an area of strength for the country"

"Acquiring same also involves huge financial resources with the nation's banking system seemingly adamant or unable to grant long term loans that are required to make purchases, for this reason, building capacity is therefore a more realistic option for immediate action" he said.

According to him, the MAN Oron even when it becomes a degree awarding institution will not solve all Nigeria's human capacity needs; NIMASA therefore has committed resources into building a maritime University in Okerenkoko, Delta State.

He explained that the university is expected to commence academic programmes next year and it will further boost the production of maritime professionals.