Oron Maritime University Faces Fresh Scrutiny At 2026 Budget Hearing
Budget Defence Reopens Old Questions
THE delayed take-off of the University of Maritime Studies, Oron resurfaced at the National Assembly on Tuesday during the 2026 budget defence session involving the Senate Committee on Marine and Blue Economy and the Senate Committee on Appropriations.
The engagement forms part of ongoing reviews of the 2026 budget estimates of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) ahead of the passage of the appropriation bill. However, discussions moved beyond figures when lawmakers questioned the status of the Oron-based maritime institution.
From Academy to University — On Paper
Senator Ekong Sampson, representing Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District and a member of the Appropriations Committee, raised concerns over what he described as the slow implementation of the law upgrading the former Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron into a university.
The academy, founded in 1977, was formally upgraded following the assent of former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2021. Despite the legislative milestone, Sampson noted that the institution is yet to fully commence operations under its new status as a university.
He described the upgrade as a landmark achievement for Oro nation and Akwa Ibom State, particularly given Nigeria’s ambition to strengthen its marine and blue economy sector. According to him, constituents have mounted sustained pressure for the institution to function in line with its statutory designation.
Sampson urged the Senate Committee on Marine and Blue Economy to expedite administrative processes necessary to operationalise the university.
Warning of Legal Implications
The debate took a sharper turn when Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, cautioned that continued budgetary treatment of the institution as an academy, despite its legal upgrade, could expose the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to legal complications.
Moro argued that alignment between the institution’s legal status and its budget classification was essential for transparency and compliance with the law. “Proper alignment is critical to avoid potential infractions,” he warned, suggesting that discrepancies between statutory provisions and budget documentation could create accountability concerns.
Committee Response
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Marine and Blue Economy, Wasiu Eshilokun, assured lawmakers that the matter would receive careful examination. He pledged that appropriate administrative and legislative steps would be taken to ensure compliance with the law.
Beyond the Oron institution, Sampson reiterated his broader push to expand tertiary education in Akwa Ibom South, citing his sponsorship of bills for the establishment of a Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi, and a proposed Federal University of Medical Sciences, Eket.
As budget deliberations continue, the future of the University of Maritime Studies, Oron, remains a focal point — not only as a regional aspiration but as a test of legislative follow-through and institutional alignment within Nigeria’s evolving blue economy framework.
