Establishment of Maritime University in Niger Delta Non-negotiable - Senate

The Senate Tuesday said the establishment of a Maritime University of Nigeria in Niger Delta region to provide manpower needs for the maritime industry was not negotiable.

But two communities in Delta State are at logger-heads with each other over the choice of the place to site the university.

At a one-day public hearing on two bills meant to provide a framework for the university, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, said the establishment of the universities would provide the needed manpower services that would be of great help to the maritime industry in Nigeria.

He said when established, the university would provide massive employment opportunities for the youth and help to save billions of foreign exchange for the country.

He also said the university would serve as the platform to ferry people abroad for maritime related education in addition to other opportunities of higher education for students.

Saraki challenged Nigerians to take advantage of the industry which he said had denied the country valuable revenues which resulted in stagnation of the cabotage industry in the country.