Hon Uwak pushes Maritime University of Nigeria Bill through Second Reading

By Ephraim Ikpe

The member representing Oron Federal Constituency, Hon Robinson Uwak has put forward convincing arguments to push through the second reading the Bill for an Act to establish the Maritime University of Nigeria, Oron.

Hon. Robinson Edet Uwak, Rep, Oron Fed. Constituency,
National Assembly, Nigeria

When finally passed, the  properties of Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron would be transferred to the said University, according to the Bill sponsored by Hon. Uwak.

Presenting his arguments at the floor of the green chamber of the National Assembly, the lawmaker said because of the relevance of the shipping industry to Nigeria and being the bedrock of the nation’s oil and gas industry, “particularly off-shore”, as well as the vehicle of the nation’s  petro-based exports and importation of raw materials and finished goods, the ports  assume the “self styled gateways to the nation’s economy”.

He however regretted that despite what the ports stand for to the nation, “Participation of Nigerian nationals and companies in the shipping industry is in its infancy, exhibiting a potentially fledging ship building/repair industry, a dying and almost non-existing seafarer corps”.

He was quick to state that “a vibrant fully indigenous seafarer corp must have been the mission and vision of the Nigerian Government as it set out in 1979, 35 years ago and about four decades now to establish what is now known as the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron”.

Hon. Uwak observed that though Section 3(b) of the Act establishing the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron clearly states that the function of the Maritime Academy amongst other things include “training of the technical manpower for ports, marine engineering, workshops, piloting and navigation, marine insurance, hydrography and other related services”, that it is very regrettable that 35 years later the objective has not been achieved, arguing that even the Cabotage Law  which states in Section 3 that vessels within the coastal  and territorial waters of Nigeria must be wholly manned by Nigerian Citizens, has not been obeyed, as man power supply in Nigeria’s domestic and coastal territorial waters was still being dominated by foreigners, which he said was posing security and economic threat to Nigeria.

In the words of his argument the lawmaker said, “The solution to this problem is not far-fetched, it lies in bridging the gap in the supply of seafarers to the nation’s dying seafarers corps.
“For years now the Nigerian Maritime and Safety Administration Agency (NIMASA) has tried unsuccessfully spending over 5 billion Naira annually in a desperate attempt to close this gap. This move, analysts have repeatedly described as a waste of tax payers’ money, capital flight and a drain on the country’s external reserves.
“Local training and certification of seafarers remains that smartest, fastest, efficient and most economical avenue of training the various levels of personnel required for the running and operation of the nation’s maritime industry.

“Maritime Academy Oron, is well positioned to meet this demands once converted to a university. Hence I present before parliament today a bill to establish the Maritime University of Nigeria”.

Hon. Uwak was worried that “Over 10,000 Nigerian cadets who have graduated from MAN Oron still cannot support the Nigerian Maritime Industry as IMO standards render them unemployable since the academy still lacks standard certification and accreditation which this bill seeks to provide for. However all hope is not lost as an upgrade of the academy to a university will grant them the opportunity to be retrained and properly certified.
“This bill clearly seeks to encourage further development in a key sector of our country’s economy by recognizing the need to quickly address a human capacity deficit in Nigeria’s Maritime Industry that has resulted in a situation where foreigners dominate shipping operations”, the lawmaker stated.

A Maritime University in Nigeria, according to Hon. Robinson Uwak, will forestall capital flight as the setting up of such a university will encourage education, tourism and an influx of foreign exchange into the country.

 He said the university will be able to provide courses and certifications that will attract foreign students who will spend in Nigeria as objects of the University aptly covers key areas in the Maritime Industry.

He added that “in Nigeria it will stem wastage of MONEY in the sending of Marine students abroad for training that alone is sufficient reason to set up a proper Maritime institution”.

Hon Uwak stated that the benefits of Maritime University to other Maritime nations   include liberalization into seafaring careers and a spur in research into the various fields of the Maritime industry with the view of keeping their Maritime Sectors ahead and achieving maritime superiority and dominance.

He said such feats have been achieved by setting up a Maritime institution such as the one proposed by the Bill sponsored by him to formulate its own policy based on indigenous problems it may face, thereby creating an academic institution that supports the formulation of maritime policy in the country.  This he said has guaranteed countries like the United Kingdom, United States, Denmark, Sweden and China in formulating sound policies that sustain them as global maritime players.

According to him, it is a  source of immense National pride to host a Maritime University as there are presently only 2 in existence on the continent, adding that the rest are academies that do not grant full certification or only tutor the merchant navies of those countries like in Ethiopia.

It could be recalled that Hon. Robinson Uwak, a first timer in the lower chamber of the National Assembly in 2011 moved a motion in the floor of the House which gave the oil producing status to the five local government areas of Oro nation.  Aside from this all-important Motion, Hon. Uwak has to his credit over thirty Motions and about ten Bills moved and sponsored by him within the period of almost three years which he has represented the people of Oron Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, thereby setting a record believed to be rare in the history of representation of the Federal Constituency by any other lawmaker in his position from that Federal Constituency.

Meanwhile Hon. Uwak’s presentation of the Bill has attracted many positive reactions  from his facebook  followers and commentators.  Mr Victor Asukwo, one of the facebook commentators has described Hon. Uwak’s presentation of the Bill as a “good move”.  Mr Asukwo who said he watched the presentation on AIT and NTA on Wednesday July 16, 2014 when the lawmaker argued for the upgrading of Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, to a Maritime University, prayed that God should be with him to accomplish his programs for the people of Oron Federal Constituency.  “You are our man and Oron nation will vote for you again”, Mr Asukwo stated.

Another fan of Hon. Uwak, Mr Emerson Nduonofit, said “this is a magnificent and creative bill that has been put forward in recent time. There should be no gimmicks”.

Mmek-Abasi Akpabio, another facebook follower of Hon. Uwak said, “Let me call on all lovers of good things to support Hon. Uwak in this grand and historic effort. This is the stuff of a genuine visionary and people-oriented representation. His concise, research-based and fact-driven presentation must have worked in no small measure to persuade his colleagues to support and pass the bill to the next stage of evolution toward becoming a law ultimately. Kudos Hon. Uwak!”