Scrapping Maritime University Will Jeopardize Buhari’s Commitment to Niger Delta –Aginighan

By Our Correspondent

FORMER Acting Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Pastor Power Aginighan has said that the proposed scrapping of the Nigerian Maritime University by the Federal Government will jeopardize President Mohammadu Buhari’s Commitment to addressing the challenges of the Niger Delta region.

Pastor Aginighan who was the founding secretary, Ijaw National Congress (INC) stated this in an interview with our Correspondent in Warri, Delta State.

He said that the move by the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Rt Hon Rotimi Amaechi has the potential of shattering the peace of the graveyard being enjoyed in the Niger Delta region because of the Amnesty Programme.

He also has appealed to the Federal Government not to scrap the Nigerian Maritime University (NMU), Okerenkoko in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.

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, 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.

According to him; “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.”

Continuing he said; “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 also; “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.”