Despite series of protests by youths and indigenes of Oron Community against the appointment of a new Rector and management committee for the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) in Oron Akwa Ibom State, maritime industry operators have commended the Transport Minister;Mr Rotimi Amaechi for the appointments.
A representative of the indigenes, Etim Oboho during a protest last week had argued that the academy at this time does not need a Rector because it is going to be transformed into a university. They also queried why Amaechi appointed a committee to manage the academy for six months despite the existence of a management board.
But speaking with Shipping Position Daily in an exclusive chat last week, a master mariner and Federal Government examiner at MAN Oron; Capt Adewale Ishola expressed total support for the minister on the management committee, which is headed by former Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Chief Adebayo Sarumi.
Ishola, also a former president of Nigerian Association of Master Mariners and an examiner with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) on Certificate of Competency (COC) examinations noted that it is pointless to fight government when the committee has already commenced its operations.
“Whether we support the setting up of the committee or not, it is already in place, when government sets up a committee and the committee would submit its report, the government would study the report and make it a white paper for implementation, so if you set up a committee and you ask them to implement what they recommended, it means that government has approved of it and so they need to be allowed do their job”
“We cannot condemn the move by government, they have also given the committee a time frame”, he said.
Also speaking with our correspondent, Secretary of Nigerian Institute of Shipping (NIS) Mr. Francis Omotosho said that the management committee by Amaechi is in order, even as he described the minister as a result-oriented man.
Omotosho argued that the indigenes of Oron Community are the major problems and cause of the crisis rocking the maritime academy.
“The indigenes of Oron are the main problem of that school, they would sponsor their own candidate to be the Rector of the school and when government gives them funds, they would misuse the fund”
On his part, the Registrar of Nigerian Institute of Freight Forwarders of Nigeria, Dr. Zebulon Ikokide advised that the indigenes of Oron and even maritime operators should exercise caution before criticizing the moves and appointments by the minister. He argued that the upgrading of MAN Oron into a University is against the Act setting up the school.
“Is the upgrading of the institution to a University status in the law setting up the academy? Have you been able to find out the committee terms of reference, what they were asked to do? Let us not criticize the minister for nothing”, he cautioned.
Meanwhile, the Academy has suspended admission process for applicants and intending cadets for 2017/2018 session into the institution.
Director, Corporate Affairs of MAN Oron; Siddi Mkpandiok said that the decision was due to the ongoing restructuring and repositioning of the institution that is being carried out by the government.
In a statement sent to Shipping Position Daily at the weekend , the spokesperson confirmed that: "The Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron hereby inform all applicants and intending Cadets who registered for admission into the Academy for the 2017/2018 Academic Session that the admission exercise for this particular session has been suspended. This is due to the on-going Restructuring and Repositioning exercise being carried on in the Institution by the Federal Government".
Consequently, applicants to all regular programmes of the National Diploma, Higher National Diploma and Post Graduate Diploma are by this notice advised to apply to the Office of The Rector, Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, Akwa Ibom State for the refund of Aptitude Test Fee earlier paid", the statement added.
Also, our correspondent gathered that fresh agitation by indigenes over the status of the committee resumed last week as the road leading to the academy was totally blocked with uprooted electric poles and palm fronts to avoid staff entering the academy. Also, a coffin and eggs were also alleged to have been placed at the entrance of the academy, a development that scared the cadets from entering the school or coming out.
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