- The Nigerian Navy, in a statement, confirmed the governor’s appeal
Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has urged the Nigerian Navy to enhance security along the maritime borders of the proposed Bakassi Deep Sea Port (BDSP).
During a visit to Navy headquarters in Abuja on Monday, Governor Otu emphasised the importance of heightened naval presence to curb criminal activities along the coastlines shared with Cameroon.
He also called for more personnel and platforms in the area to safeguard the strategic location.
The Nigerian Navy, in a statement, confirmed the governor’s appeal, highlighting the need for protection at the BDSP, a project aimed at decongesting Apapa and other ports as part of President Bola Tinubu’s economic strategy.
Responding to Governor Otu, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, the Chief of Naval Staff, assured him of the Navy’s commitment to providing adequate security at the proposed port and other critical assets in Cross River State. He reaffirmed that naval units stationed in the state, including Nigerian Navy Ship VICTORY and the Naval War College, will continue their operations to maintain security.
Governor Otu’s visit follows his earlier announcement in May of securing $3.5 billion in funding from Afreximbank to begin construction of the Bakassi Deep Sea Port, a key infrastructure project for the state.