There are indications that lecturers at the foremost Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) in Oron, Akwa Ibom State are no longer keen to teach at the school, even as many are leaving the school due to alleged internal wrangling and non-conducive atmosphere.
A reliable source at the academy told Shipping Position Daily under anonymity last week that master mariners and other maritime experts are also no longer willing to go and lecture at the academy due to crisis in its management fold.
Our correspondent gathered that lack of substantive Rector for the academy has slowed down its activities.
One of the lecturers at an event last week also confirmed that "Oron is no longer providing the training required, and because of the politics in Oron, many maritime experts have refused to go there and teach"
"The atmosphere is very un-conducive, I had the opportunity to tell the governor that nobody would risk his life to come to Oron and teach in that school" he said.
Recall that the academy has been without a substantive Rector since the death of the former Rector; Joshua Okpo who died in his hotel room in Abuja last December.
Immediately after the death of Okpo, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi appointed Engr. Anthony Isiodu as acting rector.
But, Isiodu who was appointed in December as acting rector died in July; seven months after he was appointed, leaving the academy with no headship so far.
However, since the death of Isiodu, there have been supremacy battles between the Registrar of the Academy, Ante Mkpandiok and the Bursar, Kayode Folorunsho for the control of the academy.
The two principal officers of the school have always been at logger heads due to their indifferences bordering on who should run the institution in the absent of a substantive rector.
It was gathered that due to the fight between the two principal officers and lack of substantive head, the minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi had ordered freezing of the Academy’s account.
A reliable source in the academy informed our correspondent that the minister only allowed expense such as staff salaries, cadets’ feeding, electricity bills and the burial expenses of the late acting Rector, Dr. Anthony Ishiodu.
The Public Relations Officer of the academy, Siddi Mkpandiok however said the minister had placed restrictions on certain aspects of the account.
"It was not about freezing of the accounts but the Minister only restricted access to certain aspect of the account"
“The only access was feeding of the cadets, lighting of the academy are not affected.
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