Host Communities Decry Petitions Against Management of MAN Oron

Okon Bassey in Uyo

Host communities of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, Akwa Ibom state have expressed worry over series of petitions against the management of the academy.

Coming under the aegis of Akpakip EyoAbasi Group of Villages, they alleged that faceless stakeholders and some social groups such as the Oron Youths Movement (OYOM) were hampering the progress of the academy.

In a meeting yesterday in Oron, representatives of the communities expressed dissatisfaction over petitions against the institution, stressing that the petitions negate the necessary impact the academy supposed to create.

A communique issued at the end of the meeting was signed by the Chairman, Eyo Abasi Council of Chiefs, Asukwo John Esanga-bianga, National President, Akpakip Eyo Abasi Elders Forum, Asukwo John Iduo, and other critical stakeholders, including youths and women.

The communique was also endorsed by the National President, Akpakip Eyo Abasi Youths Association, Ulap Bright Asukwo Afahakan and National President, Akpakip Eyo Abasi Women Association, Arit Effiong Edohonsi.

They declared unflinching support to federal government’s policies and programs concerning the Maritime Academy and the Acting Rector, Dr. Kevin Okonna-led administration.

The communique stated: “We warn the detractors both internal and external to desist from writing malicious pieces that could jeopardize the federal government’s good intentions towards the development of the Maritime Academy, Oron.

“The academy has continued to maintain its undeniable impacts over the years in the training of specialists in the marine sector of the Nigerian economy.”

Commending the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy as well as the Acting Rector for their efforts to maintain peace, the Akpakip Eyo Abasi Forum urged the management of the academy to disregard the dubious petitions and instead focus on carrying out programmes that would transform the academy into a world-class maritime training institution.

The forum called on the management of the academy to liaise with the host communities, critical stakeholders in Oron Nation, Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria by extension, to ensure the intended mandate of the maritime institution is achieved and indigenous people are not denied of their corporate social responsibility benefit.