The Akwa Ibom state government has donated fourteen new patrol boats to aid the military in combating crime in the state’s waterways.
The boats are to be complemented with the installation of machine guns and the designation of military personnel to man the boats.
Governor Umo Eno said the gesture was part of the state’s partnership with the Nigerian Army to tackle criminality in the Niger Delta region.
The deal was sealed when Governor Eno hosted the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, who paid a courtesy visit to the Governor at Government House, Uyo as part of his working tour of military formations and units under the Nigerian Army 6 Division.
Welcoming the Chief of Army Staff to the State, the Governor lauded the Nigerian Army for working hard and in synergy with other security agencies to keep the State safe.
He pointed out that his creation of the Ministry of Internal Security, headed by a retired Army General, indicates his administration’s premium on security to ensure a more coordinated partnership with the security agencies.
He therefore assured of the state’s commitment to work with the Chief of Army Staff and collaborate in other areas of mutual needs for overall peace and stability in the state in particular and the nation in general.
Earlier, the Chief of the Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, said his tour of the military formations in the region was to ascertain their locations, assess their activities and state of readiness for required operations.
He described his reception in the state as exceptionally warm and acknowledged the support of the State Government to the Nigerian Army 2 Brigade stationed in the State, by extension the 6 Division covering the South-South region.
