The bill for establishment of Nigerian Maritime University at Okerenkoko
\nin Delta State, scaled second reading at the Senate, months after Minister
\nof Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, announced scrapping of the project.<\/p>\n
The bill sponsored by James Manager (PDP-Delta) was unanimously supported
\nby the senators after the mover\u2019s lead debate, making case for the
\nestablishment of the university.<\/p>\n
The groundbreaking of the proposed school at Okerenkoko in Warri
\nsouth-West local government area was done by former President Goodluck
\nJonathan in 2014 and, according to the Minister of State for Petroleum
\nResources, Ibe Kachikwu, physical asset were on site.<\/p>\n
However, there has been no law backing the establishment of the university. Later on June 14<\/span><\/span> in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, the Minister said the Federal \u201cOkerenkoko (Maritime University), I am not against,\u201d he said. \u201cMy \u201cWhat to do: let EFCC retrieve the money and release the money and we But the Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu disagreed with Mr. \u201cFirst, let me say on Okerenkoko University, I disagree with the Minister \u201cAny facility that is located in the South-South we should work close to On Wednesday<\/span><\/span>, the Senate shunned the transport minister, ensuring the bill Mr. Manager, the sponsor, argued that maritime sector had huge potentials On suitability of Okerenkoko for the project, he said the area was close The move that the bill be read for the second time was seconded by Fauster He said Nigeria would be the first to have maritime university in West After the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, called the voice vote and the Also, the Senate made progress on the bill to make the Maritime Academy in The bill for establishment of Nigerian Maritime University at Okerenkoko in Delta State, scaled second reading at the Senate, months after Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, announced scrapping of the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":54537,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-54535","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nAddressing the senate committee on maritime on January 19<\/span><\/span>, Mr. Amaechi had
\nannounced the scrapping of the project, which was to be financed by the
\nNigerian Maritime and Safety Administration Agency, a parastatal under his
\nministry.
\nMr. Amaechi then cited insecurity in the area, and said the project was a
\n\u201cmisplacement of priority\u201d because there are transport institutes in Zaria
\n(Kaduna), and Oron (Akwa Ibom), already.<\/p>\n
\nGovernment lacked the funds to continue with school; and that unless the
\nN13 billion spent on the procurement of the land for the project was
\nretrieved, the project stood scrapped.<\/p>\n
\nargument about Okerenkoko is that land alone is 13 billion(naira).
\nIf you give me 13 billion, I will buy the half of Lagos. That 13 billion
\nhas built the university already.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nbuild the university. If they bring the N13 billion, I will build the
\nuniversity for them. That\u2019s for land alone. I believe the Federal
\nGovernment does not have money.
\nWhen we have money, we can continue. The minister of petroleum has said he
\nwould look for the money. Minister, give me the money and we continue,\u201d
\nMr. Amaechi said in Uyo.<\/p>\n
\nAmaechi, saying he was in support of the project, drawing a loud applause
\nfrom the audience.<\/p>\n
\nof Transport,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\ndeveloping it. I don\u2019t care the circumstances under which you are placed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nfor the establishment of the Maritime University scaled second reading
\nPREMIUM TIMES reports.<\/p>\n
\nand that Nigeria should have a university for the purpose of producing
\ncapable manpower for the sector which, as he said, is currently dominated
\nby foreign interests.<\/p>\n
\nto the sea and surrounded by oil wells.<\/p>\n
\nOgola (PDP-Bayelsa) who said the giving legal backing to the school would
\nmake Nigeria become a \u201chub of manpower development in the Maritime
\nsector.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nAfrica once the bill received approval of the National Assembly
\nultimately.
\nGbenga Ashafa (APC-Lagos) and Jibrin Barau (APC-Kano) also supported the
\nbill.<\/p>\n
\nSenators unanimously responded \u2018ayes\u2019, Mr. Saraki ruled the bill be
\nreferred to the committee on tertiary education and Tetfund.
\nThe committee was asked to report back in four weeks<\/span><\/span>.<\/p>\n
\nOron, Akwa Ibom State a degree awarding institution. The bill, proposed by
\nEffiong Nelson (PDP-Akwa Ibom) was read for the second time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"