The Governor of Cross Rivers State, Senator Bassey Otu fell short of telling the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla that after Nigeria ceded two of the five islands that make up the Bakassi Peninsula, to Cameroon in August 2008, the three islands on the Nigerian side became almost completely abandoned, with minimal security to secure and protect them from criminal elements and adventurous Cameroonian gendarmes.
Therefore, the Nigerian Navy needs to increase its presence in the Bakassi area by deploying more personnel and equipment to secure the three islands remaining in Nigeria after two of the original five Bakassi islands were ceded to Cameroon, so socio-economic activities can thrive in the areas again. pleaded at a meeting with the CNS at the Naval headquarters in Abuja, yesterday, Monday September 9.
“We need a serious naval presence on the Bakassi peninsula. Although we are aware that the federal government ceded two out of the five islands in Bakassi to Cameroon, we are the same people and the matter is still ongoing,” Otu said.
“We are here to let the Navy know that we need to do the same (provide security) in our part of the islands as well because our part of the island is not fully manned.
“We know issues of security, particularly with the Navy and equipment, are capital intensive. However, when it comes to the security of our people and efforts to boost trade, we will spare no effort to make our state safe, especially with the coming of the Bakassi seaport.
Commending the Navy for providing security for the State, particularly in the riverine communities, the Governor said the Nigerian Navy deserves kudos for the relative peace and security being enjoyed in Cross River State.
Welcoming the Governor to the naval headquarters, Vice Admiral Ogalla said Cross Rivers State is a strategic coastal state not only for the Nigerian Navy but also for Nigeria as a whole, stating that it is the gateway to the nation from the eastern corridor, hence there is absolute necessity to fill in the gaps in terms of provision of security.
He said: “In line with your request, we are going to review our operational strategies to see to the establishment of Forward Operational Bases to ensure and provide more security.
“I promise that as you are leaving this headquarters, work is commencing towards coming up with the modalities of bringing these plans to fruition,” the CNS said, further assuring that the Hydrographer of the Nation and Nigerian Navy would be brought in to carry out proper and correct hydrographic delineation of the sea lanes.
