The Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, Akwa Ibom, has appealed to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to improve the funding of the academy.
MAN Oron Rector, Joshua Okpo, who made the appeal while speaking with the newsmen on Sunday noted that the financial needs of the institution had risen above the amount the law mandated NIMASA to release to it.
According to him, although the law stipulates that NIMASA should release at least five percent of its revenue to the academy, it did not stop the agency from allocating more funds.
He said the academy needed to build a simulator complex valued at N2.5 billion so as to meet the training requirements of its cadets.
He explained that the establishment of the complex would require the acquisition of Global Maritime Distress Signal System, radar, ARPA simulator and engine simulator.
Okpo said an audit team from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO)was expected to visit the academy in January 2016 for the assessment of its facilities.
“We must try very hard to remain on the IMO white list and we appeal to the Federal Government to help in purchasing the equipment.
“Without the equipment for simulator training and certification, we may not likely pass the test,” he said.
Okpo said with the installation of the simulators, students of the academy would no longer have to go outside the country for further training and certification.
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