Ijaw youths from the six states in the Niger Delta region have asked President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate the alleged discriminatory policies of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) against institutions set up and funded by the federal government in the region.

According to the angry Ijaw youths, under the umbrella of Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) worldwide, the recent policies of NIMASA have drastically reduced and crippled the institutions such as the take-off of the Maritime University, Okerenkoko and the NIMASA Science and Technical College, Okoloba in Delta State.

The IYC, in a statement issued by its spokesman, Hon. Eric Omare, accused the NIMASA administration of alleged political victimisation and issuing order against the continued funding of the Maritime University and the NIMASA Science and Technical College.

The statement, which was made available to newsmen in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, stated that the political victimisation is a policy taken too far.

It said, “Since assumption of office, all steps taken by President Buhari and his kinsmen with respect to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) are all geared towards the frustration of the Maritime University, Okerenkoko, NIMASA Science and Technical College, Okoloba, Delta State and any project or programme perceived to be of benefit to the Niger Delta region.

“President Buhari’s administration has ordered all ongoing projects, programmes and the take-off of the Maritime University, Okerenkoko to be stopped, whereas other tertiary institutions in other parts of the country where maritime programmes are being sponsored by NIMASA are allowed to continue.

“These institutions are Ibrahim Babangida University, Niger State, University of Lagos, Federal University of Technology, Gombe and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and the approval for the maritime programmes in these institutions were given at the same time with the Maritime University, Okerenkoko.

“The IYC is convinced that this is a continuation of President Buhari’s victimization of the Niger Delta region especially the Ijaw people as a fall out of the last Presidential election.