The Senate Committee on Marine Transport has pledged to review the budget of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, Akwa Ibom State, to breathe life into its long-abandoned boat maintenance yard.
Committee Chairman, Senator Wasiu Eshilokun Sanni, made the pledge during the 8th Town Hall Meeting in Lagos on Tuesday, themed “Smart District, Strong Communities: Building a Better Future.”
Eshilokun, who represents Lagos Central Senatorial District, stressed the importance of revitalizing key government agencies in the maritime sector, highlighting MAN Oron as a crucial institution for maritime manpower development.
He revealed that during a recent oversight visit to the academy, lawmakers observed the dilapidated state of the boat maintenance yard, which has been out of operation for over a decade. The facility, once rehabilitated, is expected to boost the academy’s internally generated revenue (IGR) and enhance its training capacity.
“The committee, in its usual character since I became Chairman, has promised to review the academy’s budget and support the completion of the abandoned yard, transforming it into a fully functional facility,” Eshilokun stated.
He noted that this marks the Senate Committee’s first visit to MAN Oron in two decades. He attributed the academy’s recent modest improvements to allocations provided in the 2024 federal budget.
The Senator also discussed the committee’s recent oversight visits to ports in the Eastern Ports Complex between August 3rd and 5th, 2025, including Port Harcourt Port. He said engagements with port stakeholders have started addressing operational challenges, ensuring better utilization of resources allocated to the Nigerian Ports Authority and closer monitoring of concessionaires’ compliance with agreements.
