The Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, has criticised the Federal Authorities’s maritime safety coverage of participating non-state actors to safe the maritime atmosphere.
He known as on the Federal Authorities to overview the safety technique, saying it was a coverage resolution the federal government would later remorse to have adopted in its effort to safe financial property within the nation’s territorial area.
Diri said this throughout a courtesy go to to him by the Chief of the Naval Workers, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, at Authorities Home in Yenagoa, on Monday.
The PUNCH experiences that the Nigerian Navy authorities had engaged in a frequent confrontation with the administration of Tantita Safety Companies Restricted, a personal safety outfit belonging to a former militant chief within the Niger Delta, Mr Authorities Ekpemupolo, also referred to as Tompolo, over safety operations across the nation’s oil property for the reason that Federal Authorities awarded a multi-billion naira pipeline surveillance contract to the agency.
Diri expressed issues that the continued use of such unconventional safety brokers may trigger better safety challenges shortly, and known as for the strengthening of the Nigerian Navy to carry out its constitutional duty.
The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, contended that personal people and teams shouldn’t be allowed to execute oil pipeline surveillance and safety contracts impartial of the supervision of typical safety companies.
He identified in a press release issued by the deputy governor’s media aide, Mr Doubara Atasi, that safeguarding the nation’s territorial waters was the unique protect of the Navy and must be supported in each approach doable to allow it to successfully safe oil and different vital nationwide property in coastal communities.
He famous that “already, there had been reported instances of violation of human rights and safety breaches by surveillance contractors in native communities across the state.”
Diri mentioned, “The cry of the Bayelsa State Authorities is that non-state actors usually are not the very best to guard our oil property. Within the title of oil pipeline safety contracts, most of them violate the rights of our individuals in our localities.
“Allow us to not do issues that we’ll remorse as a rustic tomorrow. What the Federal Authorities is doing proper now could be like slicing the nostril to spice the face.
“You don’t want to chop off your head as a result of you have got rotten enamel. You merely search for a toothbrush. You’ll be shocked that we’ll get to a degree the place a few of these non-state actors will begin to problem us.
“I’ll counsel that the Nigerian Navy must be allowed to play that position to guard our vital oil property. The Federal Authorities ought to subsequently rejig or reinvent its safety technique to securing these property.”
Nevertheless, he recommended officers and males of the Nigerian Navy serving in Bayelsa for demonstrating professionalism in discharging their official duties, which he mentioned had helped the state to stay one of the vital peaceable states within the nation.
Whereas calling on the Navy to maintain the tempo, Diri prompt to the Chief of Naval Workers to present official recognition and rewards to the officers for his or her skilled effectivity to this point.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chief of Naval Workers, Ogalla, mentioned the Nigerian Navy couldn’t do with out Bayelsa State given the state’s strategic location and the vital oil and gasoline amenities it’s internet hosting within the Niger Delta.
Ogalla, who described the current electoral victory of the governor and his deputy as a real victory for the individuals of Bayelsa, appealed to the federal government and other people of the state to maintain their goodwill in direction of the Navy for higher companies.
The naval boss significantly known as on oil-bearing communities to see the Navy as a pal and to indicate cooperation within the provision of credible info to curb criminality within the state.
He mentioned, “Bayelsa and Nigerians are companions as a result of Bayelsa is within the core of the Niger Delta. Bayelsa holds loads of sources in oil and gasoline, and the safety of those property is a key position of the Navy. The Navy should create an enabling atmosphere for the oil corporations to provide their most output, and there was vital enchancment to this point within the final six months.
“That is doable with the cooperation of the Bayelsa State Authorities and the individuals; the Bayelsa State Authorities has additionally offered sources to the Navy. So we’ve a cordial relationship with the oil-producing communities, and we want extra cooperation in intelligence and knowledge to curb criminality across the amenities.”
The Chief of Naval Workers was accompanied on the go to by a number of top-ranking naval officers, together with the Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral S.J, Bura, and the Commander of NNS Soroh, Commodore A.O. Ojebode.