Despite the fact that no representation came from either the Ministry of Transportation and the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, stakeholders who attended last week’s public hearing at the House of Representatives have agreed with the creation of Nigeria Maritime University and the upgrade of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria.
The agreement was one of the highpoints in the one day retreat that was curiously boycotted by the Minister of Transportation; Mr Rotimi Amaechi.
The public hearing which was organized by the House of Representatives Committee on Marine Safety, Education and Administration was attended by relevant stakeholders in the maritime industry, who had earlier being invited.
Already the Maritime University at Okerenkoko has a kick-off lifeline of N5b of which N2b has been given approval for release, but there is still disagreement about the status of the Oron Academy.
The stakeholders were in sharp disagreement as to whether MAN Oron should be upgraded to a University or not.
The pro-University group was led by both the Akwa Ibom state Government indigenes of the academy’s host town; Oron.
But those opposed to the University status wanted the academy to be a Degree-awarding institution only. The DG of NIMASA and Alumni of MAN, Oron were united on this.
The sharp disagreement prompted the Chairman of the committee, Mohammed Bago to wade in. He consequently assured that the committee would convene a technical session where the thorny issues would be resolved.
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