Yesterday, the Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi confirmed that the Federal Government had directed that it vacates the land that it was offered in Badagry for the purpose of establishing the Maritime Academy of Nigeria.
The obviously saddened NIMASA boss told visiting members of the Senate committee on marine transport, led by its chairman; Senator Zynab Kure, that it had relinquished the site to its original owners; the Administrative and Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON).
Lamenting that the development was a major setback in its capacity building drive, the NIMASA boss told the Senators that it was major challenge facing the agency.
The directive to vacate the land, according to Akpobolokemi came in a letter dated January 24th 2014 with reference; HCSF/PSO/PARA/462/S.1/T and DG468/265. Akpobolokemi said that NIMASA had complied with the directive immediately.The obviously saddened NIMASA boss told visiting members of the Senate committee on marine transport, led by its chairman; Senator Zynab Kure, that it had relinquished the site to its original owners; the Administrative and Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON).
Lamenting that the development was a major setback in its capacity building drive, the NIMASA boss told the Senators that it was major challenge facing the agency.
"During the Obasanjo regime we were given the facility of ASCON to put the infrastructure in place, when the approval came, we went there to commence action and the management of ASCON denied us access to the facility and there was a major battle", he lamented.
"The government called us for various meetings and at the end of the day we were asked to forfeit the property to ASCON through a directive of the Federal Government that ASCON should claim back the land that was initially given to NIMASA for the Badagry academy".
Shipping Position Daily recalls that the Topo in Badagry-based ASCON was ordered in 2007 to cede a portion of its land to NIMAS for the purpose of establishing the Maritime Academy of Nigeria in Badagry.
A few buildings were erected, but the site was later abandoned by contractors, while the Academy’s dream also died.
But, the NIMASA boss told the Senators who were on oversight visit that its maritime capacity objectives are still being pursued notwithstanding the Badagry setback.
Consequently, the agency may have splashed not less than N4.5billion on four universities in Nigeria as grants for the take-off and running of maritime institutions.
Akpobolokemi disclosed in his address told the Senators that in order to fill the gap observed in maritime manpower development, institutes were established in prevailing universities in Nigeria namely; IBB University, Lapai, Niger Delta University, University of Nigeria, Nsuka and University of Lagos.
A breakdown of the take-off grants showed that; Niger Delta University got N1, 735, 144, 775, University of Nigeria, Nsuka got N1, 190, 849, 675, IBB University, Lapai got N1, 072, 267, 437 and University of Lagos got 957, 049, 410.
Akpobolokemi also said that in order to complement the effort, all major contracts for the construction of a maritime university in Nigeria and a Science and Technical College, as well as a shipyard and a boatyard have been completed.
Responding, Senator Zainab Kure explained that the visit of the committee is preparatory to the approval of the 2014 budget.
According to her, "Mr. President is desirous of complete old projects, without which no new projects will be approved"
Kure said that the committee, as part of its oversight function will equally take a visit to the sites of the proposed Maritime University in Okerenkoko, Delta State and the NIMASA Science and Technical College, Okoloba in order to ascertain the level of completion of the projects.
"We have a constitutional obligation to see for ourselves all these things you have explained to us" she said.http://shippingposition.com.ng/article/shocker-ascon-reclaims-man-badagry-site-nimasa
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