Group Call On FG To Ensure Speedy Takeoff Of Maritime Varsity, $16b EPZ, Deep Sea Port

The Warri Ijaw Peace Monitoring Group, (WIPMG) has called on the Federal Government to expedite action on the takeoff of the Maritime University, Okerenkoko as well as the $16 billion dollars Escravos Export Processing Zone (EPZ) which has the Gbaramatu Deep-sea Port and the Ogidigben Gas City in Delta State.

This came a day the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo announced the approval of the release of N2B take-off grant for the Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Warri South-west Local Government Area of the state.

In a statement on behalf of the group issued in Warri Delta state, Chief Patrick Bigha, said that the above projects in the Niger Delta region would not only reduce poverty in the region but will also add value to the wellbeing of Nigerians now that the country just exit recession officially.

The group said the establishment of the university would go a long way to address the low standard of education of the average coastal dweller in the region.

He said that the University would empower the people to be self-reliance and seek alternative means of livelihood, maintaining a that the current occupational means of fishing and farming has been destroyed by crude oil exploration and exploitation activities in the last five decades.

The statement read in part: “The same goodwill will be experienced in the Escravos Export Processing Zone (EPZ) which has the Gbaramatu Deep-sea Port and the Ogidigben Gas City.

“The socio-economic value of this project cannot be over emphasized as the immediate and long term benefits are enormous.

“There will be sustainable peace and development in the region and in Nigeria generally as so many skilled and unskilled labourers will be engaged in the project.

“Over 150,000 men and women will be engaged at the construction level alone. Only this project can even address the precarious unemployment situation in the country.

According to him, the project when completed would engage about 500,000 direct and indirect staff.

While saying that there would be unprecedented industrial revolution in Nigeria if the projects come on stream, Bigha said the APC-led administration cannot afford to undermine this project as it will speedily nip the current economic hardship of Nigerians in the bud.

He therefore urged President Muhammadu Buhari to take the issues seriously saying “a stitch in time saves nine”.

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