The choice of Okerenkoko, a coastal town in Delta State , as location for a maritime university and shipyard has been explained by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Speaking in Lagos at a parley with journalists, the NIMASA spokesman and Deputy Director Public Relations, Isichei Osamgbi, said in addition to the South South region deserved status for such institution, Okerenkoko also holds a strategic proximity to Escravos, where Chevron, American oil giant and other International Oil Companies(IOCs) operate.
The choice of Okerenkoko, a coastal town in Delta State , as location for a maritime university and shipyard has been explained by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Speaking in Lagos at a parley with journalists, the NIMASA spokesman and Deputy Director Public Relations, Isichei Osamgbi, said in addition to the South South region deserved status for such institution, Okerenkoko also holds a strategic proximity to Escravos, where Chevron, American oil giant and other International Oil Companies(IOCs) operate.
Chevron's Escravos Gas to Liquid (EGTL) a $9.5 billion facility for 33,000-barrel-per-day gas-to-liquids project designed to process 325 million cubic feet per day of natural gas from the EGP expansion and other oil activities are expected to make the planned Okerenkoko shipyard viable.
This feat is expected to further open up dry docking, ship repairs and boat building options for indigenous and foreign operators in the Nigerian maritime industry with more target users from the Nigerian oil and maritime sectors.
The region, according to Osamgbi hitherto could not boast of a degree awarding maritime institution in spite of its enormous contributions to the nation's economic and social life and the Okerenkoko town located in Warri South West Local Government provides a viable location for maritime training and shipyard services needed for the oil and maritime industries.
Responding to reporters' questions on the sustainability of the shipyard since the Federal Government owned Nigerdock Limited was sold to a private foreign concern, Osambgi said shipyards are not mobile infrastructures and that they serve national economic interests once they are constructed.
He added that the operations of Nigerdock by Jagal Nigeria Limited has not stopped it from serving the maritime interest of Nigeria as the facility is still where it was and open to the maritime public.
NIMASA, he added has stepped up human capacity development with sponsorship of maritime institutes in four universities where various levels of maritime trainings are to be offered.
The Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) University in Lapai, Niger State was said to have made advanced steps to actualise the commencement of trainings.
''Soon we will be taking you on a visit to Okerenkoko and Lapai to see for yourselves the good works we are putting in place at these locations'' he told reporters.
Other universities that benefited from a N4.5Billion grant for establishment of maritime institutes are University of Lagos, Akoka Lagos; University of Nigeria,Nsukka Enugu State and Niger Delta University, Amassoma, Bayelsa State( a state owned university)
Speaking on the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) designed to offer training to youths on seafaring, Osamgbi revealed that some of the graduands from the scheme have started gaining employment with foreign vessels as at December 2013 when Nigeria along with other maritime states attended the yearly conference of the International Maritime Organisation.
Lack of indigenous vessel ownership ,according to him will not hamper job openings for beneficiaries of the scheme as many seafarers of Philippines nationality dominating the global maritime workforce are not necessarily working on Philippine owned vessels.
Nigerian banks involved in a vessel purchase arrangement under the Cabotage Vessel Finance Fund (CVFF) Scheme appears to be observing due diligence before disbursing loans to the first 6 shortlisted firms .
The banks are to indemnify NIMASA's 50 percent contribution to scheme where beneficiaries are to contribute a counterpart funding of 15 percent and the banks providing 35percent of the total sum for vessel procurement.
Source: The Journal
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