By Stellamaris Ashinze and Funmilola Gboteku

The provost of the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology, Lagos, Dr Chuks Onuoha, on Wednesday appealed to the Federal Government for a special intervention to enhance training in the institution.

Onuoha, who made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, said the special intervention would enable the college to acquire a training vessel and other needs for the development of the sub-sector in the country.

The provost said acquiring a training vessel was beyond the budget of the college.

He lauded the government’s support, particularly on workshop and infrastructure.

“The infrastructure development in the college has been taken to the next level; the complex was donated by the Japanese government through agreement with the Nigerian government to ensure its maintenance.

“Immediately we came on board, we saw the need to expand the infrastructure and the government has been supportive in terms of the necessary funding to enhance the infrastructure facilities, especially in terms of buildings, equipment and workshop.

“Just like Oliver Twist, we will keep on asking for more; we need a training vessel because we spend so much on training of cadets for ship handling and maneuvering.

“So, if we can have our ship, it will reduce the stress we are having in that regard,” he said.

Onuoha further stated that beside the training vessel, “the institution is requesting for marine simulator both for the engine and the deck, full bridge mission and full engine mission.

“All these are very expensive and not something that the normal budget of an institution can carry.”

Onuoha explained that the college had been contributing immensely to the development of marine and fisheries technologies in the country.

He added that the college was able to develop indigenous technologies needed to enhance fish production and marine activities.

“The college was established for the advancement of marine and fisheries technologies. Before its establishment, foreigners dominated the marine technology sub-sector, but the college alumni are now gradually replacing the foreigners,” he said.

According to him, the college offers special programmes such as innovation and research development in fisheries and marine to improve on what is currently obtainable in the nation.

“That will add value to the existing technology in terms of feeds for fish and engineering equipment for Marine activities,” he said.