Navy might establish base in Bayelsa

Abuja - Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, urged the Navy to establish a base in the Agge axis in the Ekeremor Local Government Area where a proposed deep sea port is to be sited.

He said the establishment of a Forward Operations Base in the area had become imperative due to the nefarious activities of sea pirates and oil thieves on the waterways.

The governor expressed the state government's preparedness to partner with the Nigerian Navy through the provision of infrastructure and improved capacity of the officers.

He said already, budgetary provisions had been made in next year's appropriation bill to set up small bases in the western flank of the state to complement the efforts of the Navy towards checking inter-State banditry as well as the incidence of sea piracy, crude oil theft, illegal refineries and other criminal activities.

“As a matter of fact, in our budget estimate for next year, we have plans working with you people to set up small bases to assist you in increasing your capacity at Formoso at the western flank and also see how the Chief of Army Staff and yourself can work together to ensure that we have some presence of the Nigerian Navy by way of a Forward Operating Base at Agge area, which is the western flank. So I will call for that collaboration,” the premier said.

He said the state government was prepared to make its own contribution to enhance the Navy’s capacity.

“Our thinking is that once we support you at the western flank and the eastern flank where you already have a base, we will be able to combat inter-State banditry and sea piracy,” he told Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba, who had paid him a courtesy visit in Government House in Yenagoa.

Ezeoba was in the State to assess operational structures as well as evaluate requirements in the Cape Formoso and the new intension to create a "Type A" base in Brass.

“Innovation is relevant in the face of the dynamics of the security challenges in the country. It is necessary to be proactive rather than reactionary in tackling security problems,” he said.

– CAJ News