The Federal Government has released N2 billion for the takeoff of the Maritime University, Okerekoko in Delta State. Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, who disclosed this while declaring open the 2nd National Council on Niger Delta in Akure, said the University will take off by October this year.

Prof. Osinbajo who noted that academic activities would soon commence at the university, stated, “We believe that as soon as it takes off, of course, academic activities and engagement and all of that will go on within the period.

The Vice President, who reiterated the commitment of the present administration towards rapid development of the Niger Delta region declared that “For us development of the Niger Delta region is not optional.”

He said the issue of Ogoni land cleanup is very much on course and that the government was working towards ensuring that right things were done at the right time. The Vice President further assured that the cleanup exercise would not be limited to Ogoniland alone but all other polluted areas in the region.

Prof. Osinbajo also revealed that the present administration was ready to support the establishment of modular refineries in the region in order to create wealth and employment in the region in particular and the country in general.

According to him, “One of our plans for the Niger Delta region is to support the establishment of privately owned modular refineries. “Many of the licenses handed out by the previous administrations have since expired. “The biggest challenge that these licenses have being facing is funding.”

He noted that this administration was committed and now working towards establishment of Refineries Infrastructure Development Fund, RIDF, to support these investment.

In his words “Modular refineries project is supposed to be private sector led, but with the collaboration of the Federal Government, State Governments, we have done a lot of work on these modular refineries. “We have released guideline for the establishment of modular refineries. We have met with several interested parties from the various parts of Niger Delta region, with investors and some cases with the state governments.

“This is the project we are committed to, we want the state governments to also work with the Local Governments so that we can draw commercial viable plans that can sustain the modular refineries when they take off”. The Vice President, said.

Meanwhile, sources in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State Capital said the Maritime Academy Oron, notwithstanding a Bill by the National Assembly for it upgrade to a Maritime University is held down by politics and interests by persons who want to buy the school over under the guise of privatization.