The House of Representatives has demanded that adequate security be deployed to coastal areas in Akwa Ibom state, to stop the ongoing economic sabotage orchestrated by the activities of pirates and armed robbers in the areas.
The resolution followed a motion on the “Need to Increase Maritime Security Personnel in Coastal Areas of Akwa Ibom State”, brought before it by Hon. Uduak A. Odudoh.
The lawmaker told the House that Maritime Security and other related issues were captured in the Exclusive Legislative list and provided for under the Second Schedule of Part 1 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
He noted that coastal Areas in Akwa Ibom State included Eastern Obolo, Mkpat Enin, Ikot Abasi, Ibeno, Mbo, Oron, Okobo, Udung Uko, Urue-Offong/Oruko Local Government Areas, with waterways of Ikot Abasi, Mkpat Enin and Eastern Obolo Local Government Areas among others, and were interconnected with other communities in the Niger Delta including Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
Hon. Odudoh further noted that the residents of the aforementioned areas were predominantly farmers and engaged mainly in fishing along the waterways in their communities.
He reminded that there were encompassing opportunities in the maritime industry, prompting the need to safeguard the country’s waterways from the nefarious activities of pirates.
The lawmaker also stressed that the activities of pirates and their involvements in organized crimes were threats to national security and economic activities.
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He expressed concern that due to incessant attacks by pirates, residents of the coastal areas in Akwa Ibom State were living in perpetual fear even as economic activities in the affected communities have been hampered and their sources of livelihood severely threatened.
He was also concerned that the fishermen in the affected areas who are insistent on exploring the Atlantic Ocean were forced to pay royalties to pirates before they are allowed to engage in their activities on the waters, as failure to pay the levies puts them at risk of getting killed or having their boats, equipment and other valuables stolen or vandalized.
Hon. Odudoh also expressed worry over the recurring attacks at Ikot Abasi Local Government Area by armed robbers whose escape route was through the waterways thereby forcing several financial institutions in the area to shut down and forcing the people to go long distances to carry out banking transactions.
Accordingly, the House, while overwhelmingly supporting the motion, also urge the security agencies to provide incentives for deployed maritime security personnel in order to motivate and encourage them to uphold their agencies rule of engagement.
It also mandated its Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration to ensure compliance.
The House which was very worried about the reports of economic disruptions in the areas, urged the security agencies of the federal government to deploy more maritime security personnel and adequately equip them to secure the coastal areas in the state and the Niger Delta region in general.
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