President Jonathan blames Maritime woes on Inadequate manpower

President Goodluck Jonathan has identified inadequate manpower as the major problem militating against the growth of the maritime sector in Nigeria calling for a concerted effort to address the situation.
The President who made this known last Saturrday while performing the ground breaking ceremony of the Nigerian Maritime University at Okerenkoko in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State stressed that human capacity development had been identified as a major factor needed to boost the maritime sector to fully utilize the gains of the industry.
He stated that the establishment of the Maritime University would enhance his administration’s commitment to job creation.
“The institution will not only expand knowledge but equip youths with skills for employment,” President Jonathan said.
He therefore urged the youths of the state to work with the government in order to get the dividends of democracy.
The government had been able to end militancy in the area after it introduced an amnesty programme that was followed by empowerment programmes for youths from the Niger delta region where most of the country’s oil rigs are located.
At the moment, ‘oil theft’ in the region has depleted the revenue generated from crude sales, a development that the government is tackling through a task force.
President Jonathan, therefore, advised persons involved in ‘oil theft’ to desist or be ready to face the consequences of their actions when caught.
The ceremony was part of President Jonathan’s tour of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) facilities in Delta State.
The establishment of the university is to further NIMASA’s passion to build local capacity in the maritime sector as well as to export manpower, a capacity development initiatives that would help to quicken the pace for the development of human capacity that would definitely take over the cabotage trade in the nearest future.
The Director-General of NIMASA, Mr Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi, had said that the dearth of adequate human capacity in the maritime sector, occasioned by inadequate maritime training institutions in Nigeria, was a major reason that influenced the decision of the National Assembly to endorse the recommendation of NIMASA to establish a maritime university.
About 400 hectares of land had been set aside for the building of the university.