Joyce Mmereole Okoli
*Calls for establishment of diving schools, improved water transport infrastructure*
A retired Rear Admiral and former Minister of Transport, Festus Porbeni, has called on the Federal Government to harness the vast employment potential in the diving sector, urging the creation of modern training institutions to build a skilled local workforce.
Speaking to journalists in Lagos on Tuesday, Porbeni decried the underutilisation of Nigeria’s diving capacity, noting that the country continues to rely heavily on foreign professionals for diving-related jobs in critical sectors like oil and gas, maritime operations, and underwater infrastructure maintenance.
“In this country, there are not many divers. Diving schools are very few,” Porbeni lamented. “So, we have foreigners doing diving jobs for us in all the oil exploration, diving and repair, working at pipelines, and other areas.”
Porbeni, who also chairs Bics Garden and served as a naval Frogman, emphasised the need for Nigeria to establish state-of-the-art diving schools that can produce certified professionals capable of working in a wide range of sectors—from underwater archaeology and anti-fouling to marine engineering and blue economy initiatives.
He stressed that countries like South Africa have already made it easier to access quality diving education and certification, adding that Nigerian youths should not be forced to travel abroad to acquire such skills.
“Diving should be taken more seriously,” he said. “If Nigerians have to go to other countries to be trained on diving, it is a challenge. Hence, there is a need to establish diving schools that will train young Nigerians to be experts and to be certificated.”
The maritime expert also reflected on his time as Transport Minister, recalling key projects such as the dredging of the River Niger and efforts to tackle siltation. He advocated for the sustained dredging of inland waterways and river ports to promote efficient water transport and reduce dependence on road infrastructure.
To achieve meaningful transformation in Nigeria’s inland waterways, Porbeni called for stronger collaboration among agencies including the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), and state-level agencies like the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA).
He further commended President Bola Tinubu for initiating reforms aimed at reviving the economy, such as the removal of fuel subsidies, forex market reforms, and the ongoing construction of the coastal superhighway. He urged Nigerians to be patient with the administration’s policies, expressing optimism about the country’s future.
Porbeni concluded with a call for national unity and democratic resilience, as Nigeria marks 26 years of uninterrupted democratic governance.
“There have been challenges, conflicts, and heated electoral processes; but the nation has stood firm. This is something that is worth celebrating even as we look forward to achieving more with democracy,” he stated.