As Rector Reassures Maritime Stakeholders on Training  Capacity/Efficiency

The Rector, Maritime Academy of Nigeria, MAN, Cdre. Duja Emmanuel Effedua, (rtd), in appraising the journey to the repositioning of the Academy to global reckoning has given insight into the many hurdles, issues and challenges he and his management team had to go through to bring the Academy to where it is at the moment.

Speaking when Maritime Nigeria contacted him on allegations made by one Ishaya Ibrahim of  the Niche newspaper in their online publication last week, the Rector expressed dismay at the content of the article as written by Ishaya.

The Niche story, published at a time when maritime professionals and stakeholders continue to commend the Rector and his team for the feat achieved in restructuring the Academy to global acclaim, has confounded those close to and conversant with developments at the Academy.

“It is shocking that this Ishaya Ibrahim would suddenly wake up and publish unverified information for the consumption of the general public despite the general warning by the IGP last week on the consequences of cybercrime and cyber bullying” the Rector said.

“Evidently, this Ishaya Ibrahim is neither a maritime expert nor a maritime stakeholder. From all indications, he is someone who is running errands for some persons who do not wish the Academy well” Effedua added.

Taking our reporter down memory lane, the rector in his  usual calm, confident and composed  demeanor  narrated how he navigated the Academy from stormy oceans to safe waters.

His words “It is on record that when I assumed duty as Rector of the Academy in Sept 2017, the institution was in a distorted and mangled state and at that time, the FGN had to set up an Interim Management Committee, IMC, to proffer solutions that would revamp the ailing institution”.

“As a member of the IMC, we worked day and night for six months to resolve the challenges observed so that the institution will not be delisted from the IMO white list”.

MAN Old Admin Building

The Rector said he met numerous issues and problems rocking the Academy on his assumption of office. he listed some them to include:

1. Poor standard of training.
2. Over bloated cadets’ enrolment.
3. Demoralized manpower.
4. Infrastructural decay.
5. Poor maintenance of facilities.
6. Unnecessary employments.
7. Dearth of teaching aids.
8. Inadequate lecturers.
9. Deplorable hostels with crowded rooms.
10. Makeshift library facility with inadequate books of reference.
11. Poor filing/data management system.
12. Decaying state of sporting facilities.
13. Abandoned projects.
14. Negative publications by a section of the Press (sponsored).
15. Misplacement of priorities in the application of resources.
16. Certificate racketing by some staff.
17. Activities of some dubious contractors.
18. Huge debt profile.
19. Picketing of the Academy by some individuals from the Host Community.

Asked how he was able to overcome these obstacles the Rector said “We worked day and night and within three years, the Academy bounced back. Is it not unfortunate that this  Ishaya Ibrahim is unaware of the history of the Academy?

Ibom Air Staff on Safety drill and ditching exercise at the Academy

“As Rector, I met a school full of malpractices. Training was relegated to the background and funds deployed by government for the development of the school were either siphoned or diverted. Consequently, we got an audit firm to identify all financial leakages and we blocked them. That is how we were able to save funds that would have been stolen by those hounding the institution at that time-which comprised of internal persons with their external collaborators and I became public enemy no one”.

Petitions and Counter Petitions

“There was a periods during which  over 7,000 were written by faceless persons. All the petitions were frivolous petitions. They were written just because they wanted me out of the way so that they can continue stealing and keeping the institution underdeveloped”

Cadets on drill at the Swimming pool of the Academy

“The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission,  ICPC, Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, the National Assembly, NASS have all been inundated with fake petitions just to get me out of the way. My mission at the Academy is not about awarding contracts and projects except those related to training. I will not make undeserved payments to anyone”

“Sometime ago, some persons connived with our staff to forge papers  that contract have been awarded and  executed before my assumption of office. There was pressure to the effect that the contractor deserve payment. we investigated  and it turned out to be false. I had to report to the EFCC. They carried out their investigation, the contractor and the  staff were prosecuted and are in prison right now”.

One of several Swimming Pools at the Academy

“There are many more petitions from me to the EFCC and ICPC on criminal activities of some internal members of staff. Is reporting such criminality high-handedness?

“From internal staff audit my Administration initiated, it was discovered that some staff of the Academy tendered fake certificates to be employed at the Academy. Is fishing such persons out and reporting such characters to the ICPC high handedness?

A classroom at the Academy

“In a situation where people do not come to work and they want to get paid at the end of the month, in a situation where persons absent themselves from work for months and in some instances for a year and they want to be paid; could taking disciplinary action against such individuals be termed high-handedness? Do heads of government institutions condole such acts”?

“When I assumed duty , i was told the Academy had 804 members of staff on its pay role. After carrying out biometrics for every staff, we found out we have only 604 staff. This means that we had 200 ghost workers in the system. Removing these faceless persons is part of the restructuring process for which i was appointed and which has helped in repositioning the Academy to attain the hitherto elusive global ranking which we have achieved”

A Rep member interacts with a Female Cadet at MAN

“It is very disheartening that people deliberately destroy government properties worth millions of naira and they want to be retained. Should persons lacking good character and discipline be rewarded for bad behaviour? Reporting men/women who indulge in untoward conduct within the confines of the Academy is what we have done and will continue to do. It is unfortunate if some persons see such act of following due process as high-handedness”.

Funding

“Maritime Stakeholders are aware that it is from what NIMASA generates that it gives the Academy 5%. This grant is in the Academy’s act and it is based on the patronage NIMASA gets from its clients that the Academy is funded. If they project 100%, who told the journalist that NIMASA will realize the 100%? The 5% Grant to the Academy can be N1.00 and it can be N1,000,000.00; it is from what NIMASA earns”.

“For instance, in 2023, the budget performance of the Academy was just 33% as against 100% as envisaged. The funding was just 33%. The National Assembly is aware as i just defended the Academy’s 2024 Budget. It is in the public domain”.

“The economic dynamics has affected everybody’s calculation and permutations, therefore, one cannot blame NIMASA or the Academy for the 33% released for 2023. The Academy has done well in the sense that we have utilized the money NIMASA released to us prudently and the evidence abound”.

The Rector commended the Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA for his support for and commitment to the development of the Academy.

Power/Electricity

Speaking on the issue of power and electricity at the Academy, the Rector stated “Diesel is very expensive now and a truck costs over #30 million Naira. The diesel we purchase is meant for training and not staff leisure. The Academy never connected power supply to staff quarters prior to my assumption of office. The allegation that the Academy had 24 hours supply of electricity daily before my arrival is laughable”.

“Ishaya forgot to calculate what it would cost the Academy to perform that feat. With only one generator that was partially functional upon my arrival? He failed to verify the narrative of his informants because he is on an undertaking to run down the Academy as he runs errands for criminals within and outside the Academy”.

“These persons are pained because it is no more business as usual where they steal and loot the system as they use to do, that is why there is a spike in their petition writing”.

Lecturers/Experts

“When I took over, the Academy lacked quality staff,  I had to go out of my way to other institutions and establishments, poaching experts, instructors, ICT experts, engineers even went as far as getting some experienced retired naval officers, NPA officers and those recommend by stakeholders in the maritime industry and they are in the Academy, doing a fantastic job”.

The Rector is applauded for a job well done by Council members and maritime stakeholders at the 2021 POP

“Altogether, the Academy has employed 109 experts under my watch and this includes Master Mariners, Chief Engineers and even foreign experts on contract basis”.

“It is pertinent to state that the Chairman of the Nigeria Association of Master Mariners, NAMM has been very supportive of the Academy. We have held several meetings with the Association at the Academy and in their office in Lagos on their continuous support and also helping us in recruiting staff”.

“Master Mariners who are active will never come ashore to work and this is unknown to this journalist because he is intellectually vacant when it comes to matters like this. A master mariner who is retired is not expected to be a young man”.

“Ishaya’s claim that master mariners exited the system in droves is false because those he mentioned exited over three years ago. And not at the same time as Ishaya Ibrahim alleged in his story. They even handed over as Directors of the School of Nautical Science to each other over the years. The records are available for all to view”.

“It is to be noted that 5 of them at various times were Directors of the School of Nautical Studies between 2018 and December 2023. How is it possible that they all left in droves as he alleged”?

The Rector (Left) with Dean, School of Maritime Transport and Logistics ,NMU Dr. Victor Omoke during a visit by NMU

“The youngest among those that resigned is 75 years. Such persons will certainly not have the energy to continue with the rudiments of the job and they are all alive except late Capt Ahia who died at his official residence while he was still in the service of the Academy; yet Mr ishaya lied that he resigned on his own”.

“In fact, two master mariners who resigned were advised by their families to resign because old age”.

“At MAN, Master mariners take only 4 subjects out of over 80 subjects taught at the Institution and they are domiciled at the school of Nautical Science while the other subjects are taught by other experts who are not Mariners.  Master Mariners take  courses related to some aspect of navigation and some aspects of seamanship. We  have other lecturers who are eminently qualified to teach those same courses”.

“Instructively, it is stipulated that a maritime training institution should have at least one Master Mariner but there is no law that says all lecturers in a Maritime Academy must be master mariners”.

“Regrettably, Ishaya is ignorant of the operations of a maritime training institution yet he is feeding the public with lies”.

“The Academy has Master Mariners and some institutions do not even have. They only have visiting lecturers who are master mariners and that does not mean they are not qualified to run maritime training”.

“In Nigeria, the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, MAN is still the best. The Academy was awarded the best Maritime Training Institution in Nigeria following a survey conducted by NIMASA in 2019. In 2023, the Academy was adjudged the best Maritime Training Institution, MTI, in Nigeria by the Association of Marine Engineering and Surveyors (AMES)”.

Patronage/Use of Our Equipment

“We have noticed a surge in patronage and subscription by potential student requests to use our equipment and facilities. From now till December 2024, there is no space to admit additional students as available spaces for subscription in 2024 have all been exhausted”.

“Therefore, if the Academy is doing poorly as  Ishaya alleged, why are we being oversubscribed?

“Mr Ishaya claimed that Ghana is more recognized and that people are going there . He should have presented statistics to corroborate his assertions”.

“The Academy is one of the most equipped MTI in Africa today . It is now the major destination for seafarers training as foreign students from West African countries have started patronising the institution. This is a feat by the present management as it never happened in its 46 years of existence. No MTI in West Africa has the quality of training equipment available at the Academy”.

“Most potential students have stopped travelling abroad for maritime training as the Academy now has the latest equipment in maritime training. This was made possible through blockage of financial leakages and saving of funds lost by previous administrations”.

The Multifunctional Classroom Simulator at MAN

“Unfortunately, Ishaya did not find this information interesting to report but he is propagating falsehood instead of reporting what is truly happening at the Academy”

“I do not interact with Master Mariners the extent of quarrelling with them;  they are elderly people. The last man who resigned is Capt Okonkwo, he was quite old and could hardly walk. Instead of sending for him, I go to him whenever we have matters for discussions”.

“It must be stated that till date, no engineer has left the Academy as alleged by Ishaya except a retired Navy Commodore, who also resigned after he lost his wife”.

Staff Quarters and Light

“On the issue of light, when I resumed in 2017, the Academy had already been disconnected from the Public Power Supply provided by Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company and the Academy premises was in darkness especially at night”.

“I made enquiries and i was informed that the town has no sub station and they hardly have electricity supply. The only place that had light in the Academy was the Admin block where the Rector’s office was located then and it was powered by a generator”

“Gradually, I introduced high quality Solar to power streets, offices and classrooms. All our classrooms and offices are now powered by solar except where heavy equipment like the simulators that is powered by generators. The Academy is an institution that requires power to run effectively and without power, we cannot meet up with our programmes and equipment such as Simulators, Helicopter Underwater Escape Training equipment, HUET, and others  depend on electricity to function”.

The HUETE Simulator being installed at MAN

“In view of this development, the Academy had to ensure that all the classrooms are powered by solar. In the hostels, the Academy ensures that the cadets are provided light for at least 3 hours and they were all issued with rechargeable bulbs whenever they are on ground”.

NMU Cadets at MAN

“His claims that the staff quarters enjoyed 24 hours light before my assumption of office is false as the first time the staff quarters was introduced to power supply by generator is under my watch. If Ishaya Ibrahim was on a genuine mission, he should have visited the Academy to verify his information rather than propagating falsehood”.

Contract Staff

“On the issue of contract staff, it is appropriate to state again that the Academy lacked qualified staff as at the time I resumed. The contract staff were brought in because there were operational gaps, which needed to be covered by experts”.

“Secondly, the salaries of permanent staff of the Academy is the responsibility of the IPPIS and not the Academy. Therefore, comparing a contract staff and a permanent staff who is already a professional working somewhere and had to be poached to come work for the Academy does not arise”

“The Academy has the mandate of the Ministry to encourage the best hands and retain them so that with their services, the Academy can be projected further. This is why we have been able to recruit 109 experts to support operations at the Academy. The journalist did not come to the Academy to verify his information but just wanted to push his story which will eventually land him in trouble”.

Partnership/Collaborations

Allaying the fears of some desperate persons who are into maritime education and training, the Rector said such persons need not worry or feel threatened by the meteoric rise of  MAN.

“Certain persons are threatened by the way people are massively trooping to the Academy for training and would do anything to remain in business. The Academy is not even in competition with Ghana or any MTI . The IMO in recognition of the progress at the Academy under my watch has donated books and publications to the Academy’s library”.

Auditorium of the Academy

“We have relationship with the Nautical Institute of the United Kingdom, IMarEST of the UK and is currently discussing with the city of Glasgow College and University of Stratchclyde for possible collaboration with the Academy. These are well known reputable maritime institutions”.

“NIMASA recently concluded its facility audit of the Academy and acknowledged the improvement made so far”.

“Maritime Stakeholders who have visited the Academy in recent times acknowledged the giant strides made by this administration. It is very clear that this Ishaya is running errands for people and this is exactly how some journalist started till they were charged for cybercrime”.

“I have been inundated with calls from maritime stakeholders who were shocked by the antics of this Ishaya Ibrahim. Ordinarily the management would not have responded to him but we have to to set the records straight”.

“The Academy has evolved. We have attained global ranking/recognition, we have achieved milestones, the momentum we have gathered, the collaborations and synergy we have established with institutions and maritime technocrats, we are confident of higher efficiency in our operations and services”

“Ishaya Ibrahim should know that he is not above the law; no citizen is. The Academy will not watch its hard earned reputation tarnished by sponsored and or paid writers” the Rector emphasized.