Patrol, secure Rivers waterways or return our gunboats, Wike tells Nigerian Navy

The governor of Rivers state, Barrister Nyesom Wike, has demanded the return of the eight gun boats donated to the Nigerian Navy in April, this year, if the security outfit did not clearly show involvement of the gun boats in combating sea piracy and criminal activities in the state.

Governor Wike issued the ultimatum while presenting his score card on his two years in office as governor of the state, at the Dr. Obi Wali International Conference Center, Port Harcourt, on Monday.

He said that since he handed the security gun boats to the Navy, he had never seen them plying the Rivers territorial waterways. He declared: “I gave the navy the gun boats to patrol the territorial waters of Rivers State to combat sea piracy and criminal activities on our waterways.

“The gun boats were bought with Rivers money. I did not give the navy the gun boats to provide marine security to other states. I am yet to see the involvement of the gun boats in combating sea piracy and criminal activities in our waterways. If the navy is not prepared to deploy the gun boats I gave them to patrol the waterways of Rivers State in the next few days, then, the gun boats should be returned to us.

“I told them when I gave them the gun boats to deploy them in patrolling the waterways of the state. Other states receive statutory monthly allocation as Rivers State, so, we will not accept a situation where gun boats bought with Rivers money will be used to provide marine security for other states,” he said.

Recall that on April 28, this year, Governor Wike donated eight gun boats to the Navy for the protection of lives and property on the territorial waters of the state.

During the event which took place at the Federal Lighter Terminal, Onne, the governor also announced the further acquisition of 13 special boats to be distributed to the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Army, and the Nigerian Police for enhanced maritime security.

The security gunboats donated were fitted with special security features: 200 horse power engine, 12.7mm guns, autonomatic grenade launchers, and communication facilities to navigate Rivers Waterways and creeks.

The governor, at the event, said “These boats are for the security of lives and property in Rivers State. They should not be taken to the neighbouring states on any account. Any state that wants to secure her waterways should purchase her own gunboats,” and warned the Navy against using the gunboats for the rigging of elections.

In his remarks at the event, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas, commended the Rivers State Governor for his provision of the Gunboats and other logistical support and assured the governor that the Nigerian Navy would put the gunboats to use to ensure the promotion of security of lives and property in Rivers State.

Meanwhile, enumerating the achievements of his administration in the past two years, the governor stated that over N145billion had been expended on roads and bridges, among others.

He said: “From inception, our administration has taken up this challenge by prioritizing the provision of infrastructure across the State. In the last two years we have invested over 145 billion to construct roads, bridges, pedestrian walkways, and underground drainage systems.

“As we speak, several road construction works are either underway or completed in Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Abua/Odual, Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Akuku Toru, Degema, Etche, Andoni, Opobo/Nkoro, Ikwerre, Emohua, Khana, Gokana, Okrika, Ogba/Egbema/ndoni, Oyigbo, and Tai Local Government Areas of the State.

“For the first time in our history, rural and urban areas are receiving fair attention in the provision of roads and bridges, thereby, breaking down the barriers of isolation and neglect hitherto associate with rural areas.

“We are also improving the quality of education by enabling our educational system to produce the graduates of the 21st century with innovative skills and knowledge to drive our development,” he said.

The Rivers State governor declared that his administration has over the last two years made unprecedented investments in the development of other infrastructure which had engendered growth in the service sectors leading to economic boom in the state.

He stated that his administration has placed the state on the path of rapid development “after the failure of the immediate past governor, adding that moribund businesses were gradually re-opening shops in the state, while new local and foreign investments had been attracted to the State.”

The governor said that his administration has prioritised the provision of infrastructure, education facilities, health, and projects that promote access to justice.

Governor Wike said that critical investments had been made in the health sector to ensure that the people had access to quality healthcare across the state.

He noted that 13 General Hospitals in thirteen different Local Government Areas, including Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Akuku Toru, Andoni, Asari Toru, Eleme, Emohua, Gokana, Ikwerre, Obio/Akpor, Opobo/Nkoro, Omuma, Okrika and Port Harcourt were undergoing comprehensive reconstruction, furnishing and retooling, with most of them already completed, awaiting furnish and commissioning.

He added: “We are also completing the regional hospitals started by the immediate past administration located in Etche and Degema Local Government Areas, as well as the Mother and Child Hospital in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area to serve as regional referral centres for secondary and tertiary healthcare.

“In addition, we have released over $4 million USD to equip and maintain the Braithwaite Memorial Hospital to international standards and enabled it to serve as the teaching hospital to the Rivers State University Medical School pending the construction of the proposed University Teaching Hospital,” he stated.