The Rector, Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron Akwa Ibom state, Commodore Dejua Emmanuel Effedua (retired) said the institution almost collapsed and threatened to be delisted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) over poor infrastructure occasioned by financial recklessness in the previous administration of the Academy.
Speaking during the House of Representatives oversight function visit to the Academy in Oron last Thursday, Effedua said the institution was on the verge of being removed from the list of Maritime Training institutions in the world as it was at the stage of near collapsed before he took over as the helmsman a few years ago.
Effedua who conducted the House Committee members headed by Hon Kahdija Abba round the Academy for-the-spot facility assessment to ascertain how funds sent to the institution were managed, explained that 39 projects abandoned by contractors in previous administrations in the Academy have been completed and commissioned.
He listed the project as Multi-functional Classroom Simulator, Full Mission Engine Room Simulator, Full Mission Deck Simulator, Ocular Vision Simulator Smart Classrooms, Survival Pools and Engineering Workshop.
Effedua told the House of Representatives Committee about the extent of financial recklessness in the institution through abandoned 39 projects that littered the Maritime campus before he assumed duties.
” The Academy did not have a Swimming Pool for the training of cadets. The former administration rented swimming pools in hotels for millions of naira to train cadets. This was not economical.
” Now we have 3 swimming pools approved by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for the Academy.
” We rent the swimming pools to oil companies who came here for the swimming test of their staff. We also allow Ibom Air to conduct their water survival test here free of charge.
” More than 39 projects were abandoned in the Academy. One of the contractors abandoned the project after collecting over N400m.
” We have dragged some of the contractors to court while others are before the Economic and Financial Crime Commission ( EFCC) for interrogation awaiting prosecution by the anti-graft agency.”
Effedua said the Academy almost collapsed because of insufficient funds to run the institution as the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) could not remit statutory funds to the Academy.
” What I did on assumption of office was to put available funds to use and clean up all abandoned projects while making efforts to track contractors that escaped with our money to face prosecution.
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” Right now, no money to pay salary of staff. We recruited contract staff to fill the manpower gap in the institution.”
The Academy has become one of the best in the world because we were able to fix things in line with International Maritime Organization requirements.
Responding, the House of Representatives committee chairman on Maritime Education and Safety Hon Kahdija Abba said it will send a letter to NIMASA to appear before it on matters concerning the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron.
Abba represented by Hon Usual Odudo frowned at the activities of NIMASA adding that the agency can not cripple operations of the institution established by the federal government since 1977.
” When we arrive Abuja, we will invite NIMASA to explain their side for refusing to release mandatory funds to the Academy” he said.
