Maritime Academy of Nigeria located in Oron, Akwa Ibom State has been in the news recently both for the right and wrong reasons. It is the premier maritime training institution established by the federal ministry of transport for the manpower needs of the sector. It started out as a nautical college more than three decades ago but has seen its facilities and faculties expanding with the population of both cadets and students increasing as well.
But recently, apart from the good news that the academy might soon become a degree-awarding institution following the passage of a bill to that effect by the Senate, it is facing the prospect of restructuring which might not go down well with stakeholders in the industry.
Though it was initially established to meet the middle level manpower requirements in the transport sector by producing such cadets that would man sea-going vessels and be active participants in the growing maritime industry, it has since upgraded many of its departments and curricula. To this extent, the academy now offers specialised courses in transport management and related fields as well as in business administration at the post graduate level.
Because of the expansion of programmes, many had hoped that the academy would be upgraded to a degree-awarding institution being a specialised training institution just like other polytechnics and colleges of education in the country had been upgraded. Though there are other specialised colleges like the school of fisheries and oceanography as well as the college of metallurgy in some parts of the country that are yet to be upgraded, that of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron became urgent because of its strategic importance to the economy and the maritime industry. According to experts, Nigeria has the potential of being a key maritime nation if its maritime resources are fully developed.
It was in an effort to meet the expected upgrading that the Akwa Ibom State government acquired additional hectares of land close to the academy to meet the requirements of the National Universities Commission and paid compensation to the land owners.
In fact, the academy was on the verge of being converted into a degree-awarding institution by the last administration headed by former President Goodluck Jonathan but that was not to be. It appears that the present administration has no interest in turning it into a university.
This was clearly seen when the Federal Government organised a town hall meeting for the South-South region held in Uyo when Rotimi Amaechi, the transport minister and Ibeh Kachikwu, the minister of state for petroleum resources, openly disagreed on the funding for two maritime institutions in the same region.
By this time, plans had been ongoing for a full fledge maritime university in Okerenkoko in Delta State with the land acquired by the federal government and compensation paid.
While Amaechi was opposed to the establishment of the maritime university in Okerenkoko saying the project had already gulped much funds, Kachikwu said it was the provision of infrastructure in the region could not be said to be too much. It seems Amaechi was indirectly saying it would be impossible to have two maritime institutions in the same region.
“Okerenkoko (Maritime University), I am not against,” he said. “My argument about Okerenkoko is that land alone is N13 billion. If you give me 13 billion, I will buy the half of Lagos. That N13 billion has built the university already,” Amaechi has said.
According to Kachikwu, “Any facility that is located in the South-South we should work close to developing it. I don’t care the circumstances under which you are placed.
“It’s not in my position to determine whether land was valued at N3 billion or N10 billion. The appropriate institution which is at the cost system will determine that. That has nothing to do with development of infrastructure. And as far as I know, so much has already gone into the university.
“So much physical of assets are being developed. We are not going to throw away the baby with bath water. We deal with the issues but the university will be developed. If he (Amaechi) does not want it in Maritime, I will take it in petroleum,” he said.
It appears though that while the issue of Maritime University at Okerenkoko has been resolved to the extent that recently the Federal Government released additional N2 billion for its take off, that of Maritime Academy has yet to be.
The not-so-good news that has recently hit the institution is that a six-member committee headed by Adebayo Sarumi has been appointed to restructure the institution with a new rector, Duja Effedua, appointed in place of acting rector who had been in office for over a year.
This is coming few months after the Senate had passed a bill to upgrade the academy and stakeholders in the industry were in high spirits, awaiting the assent of Mr. President that would give the final nod.
Stakeholders and experts have raised questions about the propriety or otherwise of the committee.
According to Nseyen Ebong, one-time rector of the academy, the appointment of a committee to restructure the academy has sent wrong signals about the prospects of the institution ever being upgraded to a degree-awarding institution.
He says the report of a committee set up earlier by the minister had yet to be made public which according to him would have helped stakeholders to reach informed decisions, adding that the setting up of another committee raises questions whether the bill passed by the Senate to upgrade the academy would ever come to light.
“The report of the committee set up earlier by the minister ought to have been public,’’ he said.
The fears by the experts and stakeholders have dovetailed in apprehension in the academy as protest by youths in the host community over the committee’s terms of reference threatens the peaceful academic atmosphere that has been prevailing at the academy.
Under the auspices of Akpakip Eyo Abasie youth association, they said that the six-member committee was constituted without any representative from the host community.
“It is disheartening that as a prominent indigene of the Niger Delta, Chibuike Amaechi who should have treated us fairly and justly is now working against our interest as a people.
“The action of the minister is not only unfair, unjust but it is contrary to his earlier stated commitment to develop the academy to a world-class institution,” Baron Iniekung, the youth president said.
Indeed, while the community and stakeholders in the maritime industry were hoping that the dream of turning the academy into a degree-awarding institution would be realised soon, it seems from all indications that it might turn out to be a long wait that may never see the light of day.
For now, the outcome of the committee’s report expected to be ready in six months will not only determine the fate of the academy but will also tell the direction of the country’s focus in the development of critical manpower in the ever-growing maritime sector.
ANIEFIOK UDONQUAK, Uyo
