Confusion Gbaramatu Kingdom as FG plans to upgrade the Nigeria Navy Secondary School at Ibusa to a maritime university.

The hope of Okerenkoko people in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State playing host to the controversial Maritime University in the locality is hanging on the balance.

It was gathered that this might be connected with indications that the university may soon be relocated to Ibusa in Oshimili North council area of the state.

While not specifically saying that the university would be relocated, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete-Ibas, Chief of Naval Staff, disclosed that plans were in advanced stage to upgrade the Nigeria Navy Secondary School at Ibusa to a maritime university.

Recall that one of the demands of the emergent militant group, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) for peace to return to the Niger Delta region, is for the Federal Government to put machinery in motion for the commencement of academic activities at Okerenkoko.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transport have earlier disagreed on the purported scrapping of the university. While Amaechi has called for the scrapping of the university, Governor Okowa said the move was uncalled for and ill advised.

Besides, he said the Nigerian Navy Engineering College in Sapele, also in Delta State, was being upgraded as one of the campuses for the proposed university, and would be operated in partnership with a Greek foundation.

Vice Admiral Ibas declined from speaking further on the maritime university at Okerenkoko, noting that the Federal Government was handling the issues surrounding the institution.

Ete-Ibas who spoke in Effurun during an inspection of facilities in naval formations in Delta State, revealed that the processes of getting the university fully licensed for operation were going on with the relevant agencies.

He said that when operational, the Ibusa University would serve both military and civilian public, as well as save the country huge amounts of money spent on training of military officers abroad.

He said, “It is true Navy is in the process of having it converted to a university to serve it and members of the public. Navy undertakes lots of courses abroad, in some civil institutions as well.

“What we have done is to identify foreign partners to assist in establishing a school to cater for the needs of the navy in areas we are operating. The process of getting the university licensed is ongoing. We are contacting relevant agencies. Once we get the Federal Executive Council’s approval, the university will commence operation.”

Meanwhile, academic activities are yet to commence, but construction work on the necessary infrastructure including blocks of classrooms have reached advanced stages at the school at Ibusa, which was established by former President Goodluck Jonathan when Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba who hails from Ibusa was the Chief of Naval Staff.