The National President of the Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association (NMNOWTSSA), Engineer Matthew Alalade has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to revisit the Maritime University Bill considering the population of the country and numbers of students seeking admission into the University.
Alalade while speaking to Shipping Position Daily exclusively last week gave kudos to President Buhari for signing the Anti Piracy bill, but urged the president to revisit the Maritime University bill, as he opined that signing the bill will be of great benefit to the country.
Shipping Position Daily recalls that Buhari declined assent to the bill seeking the establishment of Nigeria Maritime University in Okerenkoko Delta State.
Buhari had stated that the proposed sources of funding for the institution as the major reason for his decline.
Alalade said signing the bill will not only help the numbers of those seeking admission to pursue Maritime courses, but will also benefit the country as a maritime nation.
According to him "We thanked the president for signing the Anti- Piracy bill, the Anti-piracy bill will empower the relevant agencies to prosecute any vessels used for maritime crime.
"In addition to addressing maritime insecurity, the new law fulfils the international requirement for a standalone legislation on piracy, as against the approach of using the Maritime Operations Coordinating Board Amendment Bill to criminalise piracy.
"The new law also vests exclusive jurisdiction for the determination of matters under the Act in the Federal High Court.
"It empowers relevant authorities mentioned under the Act to seize vessels or aircraft used for maritime crimes anywhere in Nigeria and in international waters or in the jurisdiction of any country where the ship is reasonably believed to be a pirate-controlled ship or aircraft.
“I will only urge President Buhari to revisit the Maritime university bill as well, because this will be of great benefit to as many students who are seeking to pursue a career in Maritime and this will also be of great benefit to the country as well", he appealed.
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