11th May, 2014
President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday warned people involved in oil bunkering to desist from it or face the full weight of the law.
Jonathan gave the warning at the ground breaking ceremony of the Nigeria Maritime University and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Ship and Dockyard in Okerenkpko, and Oporoza, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta.
Jonathan, who admitted that elimination of illegal oil bunkering in the country might be difficult, accused some influential people of involvement in the illegal business.
The president commended the assistance of the international community to the ongoing war against terrorism in the country.
He condemned the disappearance of over 200 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno, by the Boko Haram sect, assuring that the girls would be brought to safety.
“I am happy with the support of the U.S., UK, Republic of China and France in searching for the missing girls and also fight terrorism in Nigeria.
“We are worried because of the sudden disappearance of the over 200 young girls struggling to improve on their education.
“Some wicked people under different kinds of arrangement and philosophy in the name of Boko Haran went and took the girls away.
“We will do everything to ensure the girls are found.”
Jonathan said that no meaningful development could be achieved in an atmosphere of violence, adding that the amnesty embraced by the Niger Delta was ushering development into the region.
“We have achieved mileage in amnesty, without peace there will be no development and we would not be talking of ground breaking ceremony like this,” he said.
He commended the Director-General of NIMASA, Mr Ziakede Akpobolokemi, for initiating the projects.
The president said the institution would help to place the nation’s maritime industry at par with its leading counterparts in the world and also enhance the nation’s economic growth.
Jonathan said that maritime was a lucrative business, stressing that, ‘’ now that we have signed the Nigerian Content Law, it will encourage Nigerians to key into the maritime and gas sectors and make money’’.
Gov. Emmanuel Uduaghan lauded Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda and urged people to support his administration to realise his dreams for the citizenry.
“We thank the President for the university,’’ he said.
Uduaghan also commended Mr Government Ekpemupolo (a.k.a. Tompolo) for his assistance in ensuring the execution of the projects.
On his part, Akpobolokemi said that the projects were sited in Delta because of its geographical location in terms of oil activities.
He said that the project would help to build capacity in maritime sector and reduce over dependence on foreign expatriates in some critical areas in the industry.