Former acting managing director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Power Aginighan has appealed to the federal government not to scrap the Nigerian Maritime University (NMU), Okerenkoko in Warri south local government area of Delta state.
According to him, scrapping the maritime university has the potential of shattering the peace being enjoyed in the Niger Delta region because of the amnesty programme.
Power Aginigan has warned that scraping the Nigerian Maritime University could shatter the peace being enjoyed in the Niger Delta region.
Aginighan who is the founding secretary, Ijaw National Congress (INC) said the move by the minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi to scrap the maritime university established by the preceding federal government was against President Buhari’s avowed commitment to addressing the challenges of the Niger Delta.
He stated that from President Buhari’s inaugural address on May 29th 2015, and the vice president’s address during the partners for sustainable development forum recently hosted by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) it was clear that the Buhari-led federal government means well for the Niger Delta region, adding that the timely appointment of the coordinator of the presidential amnesty programme and the continued implementation of the inherited amnesty programme underscored the president’s commitment.
He said: “Setting the records straight, the idea of siting a tertiary educational institution in the crude oil and gas-rich Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State was first proposed and adopted under the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo as a critical component in the roadmap to peace and sustainable development of the Niger Delta. Gbaramatu Kingdom and other communities in the coastal belt of Nigeria, springing from Eastern Obolo/Ibeno in Akwa-Ibom through Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta and Edo to Ilaje and Ese-Odo in Ondo State account for over 70% of the crude oil and gas output of Nigeria with concomitant devastation of the environment and threats on their means of livelihood.“Paradoxically, this territory has been largely alienated from the mainstream of national development without any vector of development.”Aginighan, a chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State added that: This explains the boundless joy that greeted the decision of the Federal Government to establish the Nigeria Maritime University at Okerenkoko, facilitated by the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency(NIMASA) with a temporary site at Kurutie, having satisfied the requirements of the National Universities Commission(NUC).“With a Governing Council inaugurated, Vice Chancellor and other Principal Officers of the University appointed and take-off fund in NIMASA 2015 Appropriation Act passed by the National Assembly, it is clearly an error of judgement to contemplate scrapping the Nigerian Maritime University.”
According to him: “I will rather appeal to the Honourable Minister to review his position on this matter in favour of the immediate take-off of the University by directing NIMASA to release the already appropriated take-off fund to the Nigeria Maritime University. For the Niger Delta and the Nation in general, the advantages of the having the University far outweigh every argument to the contrary. Apart from capacity building for Nigerians in the maritime industry, bringing in direct foreign investment and arresting capital flight, the Nigerian Maritime University will play a key role in the re-integration phase of the Amnesty Programme.
“Scrapping the Nigeria Maritime University Okerenkoko has the high potential of shattering the peace of the graveyard being enjoyed in the Niger Delta because of the Amnesty Programme”, he stated.
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