Fubara to deploy 6 gun boats against sea pirates

Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, presenting a plaque to Governor Siminalayi Fubara at Government House, Port Harcourt.

Published By: Ayorinde Oluokun

By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Rivers governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has promised to donate six gunboats to the Nigerian Navy as part of the moves to tackle illegal bunkering and the increasing incident of attacks by pirates on the waterways in the state.

He, however, accused those who want to sabotage his administration’s efforts by resorting destroying and frustrating the people’s means of livelihood by creating insecurity.

“The waterways around Bonny Local Government Area are the tracks they operate now; kidnapping of innocent people who are coming from Bonny Island to Port Harcourt or some of them on their way from Port Harcourt to Bonny Island.

“As we are talking now, we have already started doing something. Myself and the Office of the Secretary of the State Government, have already directed them to acquire six gun boats, so we can handover some of them to the Navy, so that they can cover some areas of interest.”

The Governor also expressed delight that the success will further be sustained, given the commendable interest shown by the Presidency that has constituted the Niger Delta Monitoring Team, and tasked with the mandate to curb oil theft and illegal refining of crude oil in the entire region.

Governor Fubara spoke when he received the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who led a delegation of the Joint Federal Government Team on Security of National Assets on courtesy visit to Government House in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

This contained in a press statement issued by Nelson Chukwudi, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Fubara.

The Governor said those he described as saboteurs are not only attempting to disrupt the course of delivery of critical projects and good governance, but extended it to create disaffection within the thriving business climate because they do not want to see anything good reckoned with his administration.

But Governor Fubara stated that he is not deterred by those acts because there is a stronger determination to rewrite the story and ensure that Rivers people get the best while the national economy does not suffer by what happens in the State.

Governor Fubara said: “You know what they say, everything might not be God’s wish, but everything worketh for God’s desire.

“We are faced with a situation where the little that we are doing here are being sabotaged by some persons who do not want to see any good in what we are doing.

“This is not just in the aspect of governance, but also in the aspect of economic activities of this country. And, one way or the other, this particular moment has created an opportunity for us to rewrite those stories.”

Governor Fubara emphasised: “I can say here boldly that before this time, we’ve had a very wonderful working relationship with the Service Commanders here. And in Rivers State, we have done so much in the aspect of combating illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalization.

“And, you can imagine what has just happened now. When the Federal Government is now being part of it, through the different headquarters of the (military) service arm, to complement what we are doing. I can assure you that it is going to be a total success.”

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Fubara stated his confidence in the caliber of members of the team and how professional the Chief of Defence Staff has conducted their operations.

The Governor also explained that he did not appoint Henry Wordu into the team merely because he knows him, but because of his interest to defend the State and Nigeria.

He said: “It is very important, some persons may chose people because they are their relations; they are their friends, no. We need to look at people who can represent us well. He is a man who has shown so much concern, interest in the affairs of our State. So, I have no doubt that he will bring honour to us.”

The Governor also explained the drastic decision that has been taken to curb incidences of piracy at some sea routes in the State.

Fubara restated his resolve to ensure that everything goes on well by providing the needed State Government’s support that will contribute to increasing crude oil production.

He added: “I can assure you that we will give all the necessary support to the committee to make sure that they succeed.

“Let me, on behalf of the Government and people of Rivers State, assure the Chief of Defence Staff that our collaboration in supporting the course of the Federal Government to ensure that (crude oil) production line increases by next year is a task that must be done, and Rivers State will be part of it to make it succeed,” he added.

In his speech, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, said his visit is two-fold: first, is to assess the level of implementation of their directives towards achieving the mandate of Mr President in securing the oil producing areas, ensure that crude oil production increases.

The second reason, he said, is to inaugurate the two committees: the Defense Joint Monitoring Team and the Defense Joint Intelligence Infusion Centre.

General Musa explained: “Now, why we have these two is to enhance the work we already have been doing on ground. We have observed over time that there are gaps in the activities ongoing, and for us to be able to achieve the mandate of the Commander-in-Chief and President of Nigeria, we have to do things differently.

“And firstly, what we did was that with the Operation Delta Safe (ODS), we made sure that all the security forces and other agencies are working together under the Joint Task Force.

“They have their company Commanders and personnel, and whatever that is being done, we are doing it together in unison. We understand that synergy is very crucial to our success, and that is the first thing that we did.

“And secondly, the Monitoring Team and the Infusion Centre. The Monitoring Team is to also go round and see where they are gaps to be able to direct the operations so that they can be able to see that things are covered.”

General Musa added the Infusion Centre was tasked to also harmonize all the intelligence agencies together, gather all the information, whether it deals with oil production or other acts of criminality that will help in taking direct action to ensure that there is peace.