By Abbas Nazil
Contractors handling the permanent site project of the Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State, may have to resume work at the site or face the wrath of the law.
The contractors (names withheld) have been received mobilization funds, but have abandoned work at a stage not commensurate with the funds they received.
This abandonment has drawn the ire of the institution’s Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Abdullahi Bardi, who expressed frustration at the low stage of work at the site.
Bardi, who led the council on an inspection your of the temporary and permanent sites of the university, lamented that the delayed construction of the permanent site has impeded the rollout of critical programmes needed to fully harness the blue economy’s potential.
He, therefore, issued a stern warning to the contractors, demanding that they assume work there within three months or face severe repercussions, including being reported to investigative authorities.
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“If we find that, say, 30 percent of the payment has been made and the work done on the ground is less than 30 percent, we will forward that name to the necessary authorities for action,” Bardi warned.
He assured stakeholders that legal consequences await contractors who fail to comply with the timeline.
The Pro-Chancellor emphasized the university’s pivotal role in training a new generation of maritime professionals and highlighted its mission of unlocking the hidden potential of Nigeria’s vast blue economy.
He described maritime training as one of the most lucrative professions globally, offering limitless opportunities for youths.
Bardi pointed out that the Nigeria Maritime University stands out among the nation’s over 60 federal universities due to its unique focus on maritime education and its potential to transform the lives of young Nigerians.
Speaking earlier during the tour, Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Emmanuel Adigio, expressed the institution’s readiness to relocate some faculties and launch new programmes once construction at the permanent site is completed.
He noted that the delay is stalling plans for the university’s expansion, which is critical to meeting its mandate.
