The House Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration, has promised to expedite action to ensure the bill establishing the Nigerian Maritime University (NMU) is passed into law.

Leader of the committee, Mr Uduak Odudoh, stated this on Thursday, during an oversight function of the committee to the NMU, Okerenkoko, in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta.

Addressing newsmen shortly after assessing the university facilities in the twin communities of Okerenkoko and Kurutie, Odudoh said that once the bill was passed, the institution would “kick-start” very well.

He identified inadequate funding as the major challenge confronting the institution and promised to ensure that it was adequately funded to compete favourably with its counterparts in the country.

The lawmaker commended the Tompolo Foundation who, according to him, had contributed about 40 percent of the development in the institution.

He also thanked the leadership of the host communities for ensuring absolute peace in the area as well as providing a large expanse of land for the university.

“We will ensure that the bill is passed into law so that everything that is supposed to come to the university will not be denied

“We will also do everything as a parliament and include in our budget the building of a standard clinic in the university because of its distance from the upland.

“I use this opportunity on behalf of the committee and the House of Representatives to immensely thank the Tompolo Foundation.

“Because from our assessment and reports, 40 per cent of what we are seeing here and the other campuses are done by the Tompolo Foundation.

“We also commend the communities for graciously donating large expanses of land. This shows that they want development,” he said.

Odudoh gave an assurance that the House of Representatives would graciously attend to all the challenges confronting the university.

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the NMU, Prof. Emmanuel Adigio, identified inadequate funding, transportation, electricity and staff accommodation as some of the challenges in the university.

Adigio urged the Federal Government to build staff houses as well as increase funding for the institution.

“This university was initiated by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). We are pleading with them to increase the funding to enable us to have more staff,” he said.

The committee had earlier in the day visited the Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Oboro-Gbaraun 11, Aketekpe, Agadagba at his annex palace in Warri to intimate him on their oversight visit.

The royal father urged the committee to ensure speedy passage of the bill that established the university and assented to by President Bola Tinubu to become an Act.

The king noted that the gesture would enable the NMU to enjoy the same benefits as other universities.

On the House Committee delegation were: Omoleye Francis, Mathew Kuzalio, Abubakar Mohammed and Mrs Ilami Ngbor (Clerk).

On the part of the NMU were: Dr Alfred Mulade, Registrar NMU, Dr Charley Igwe, Bursary, Associate Prof. Basil Posigha Acting Librarian, Prof. Tolumoye Tuaweri, Director, Academic Planning, amongst others. (NAN)

Edited by Adeleye Ajayi