From Isaac Job, Uyo
Experts in Maritime sector have applauded the Rector of Maritime Academy of Nigeria ,Oron Commodore Dejua Emmanuel Efedua (retd) for providing state of the art infrastructure at the nation’s premier Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron in the last five years .
Delivering lectures the end of a 3 day 2024 Maritime Lecture Series at Maritime Academy of Nigeria ,Oron yesterday, the resource persons observed that commodore Efedua has given the institution standard facilities in line with standard by International Maritime Organisations .
One of the resource persons Dr Emeka Akabogu said he was surprised at the level of infrastructure in the academy as the rector gas provided all amenities needed for world class maritime education in Nigeria.
Akabogu; a senior partner at Akabogu & Partners Law firm with focus on Maritime laws said the infrastructure is reflection of the thinking of the institution’s management to make the Academy the pride of Nigeria.
“I came her to speak to the cadets and staff on the occasion of the maritime lecture series.The last time I came here was in 2005. The school is a whole new school!
” Great work has been done, and I can only say that the school is an asset to Nigeria. It shows that efforts and sacrifice and thinking have been invested in making the school a pride for Nigeria.I commend the Rector, Commodore Effedua, for the marvelous work done! Well done!.
Akabogu who delivered a lecture on “Sustainable Shipping Development in Nigeria: Review of Policy and Regulatory Frameworks as Nexus” regretted that some policies and laws in the maritime sector have not been implemented adding that the cabotage law in the maritime industry has failed.
He listed reasons why the maritime sector is under performing without achieving the desired government objective to include unregulated practices, lack maritime wholesome policy , poor administration of cabotage law, no comprehensive shipping policy among others .
” In the United States , the cabotage was practiced since 1920 and it is still working till today . But in Nigeria, the law was passed in 2003 and it has failed in its implementation. ”
He therefore urged the federal government through the Ministry of Blue Economy to set a target as the maritime sector has been assessed to be under performing by contributing only 0.01 per cent to the National Gross Domestic Products (GDP) according to National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)
” The federal government should also codified policies not back by law in the maritime industry.
” Focus on data collection in the industry , promote compliance to existing laws in the sector ” He said
