Bayelsa State Government in collaboration with the operatives of the Joint Task Force has mapped out strategies to curb crude oil theft and other related vices in the State.
Also, the State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson commended the efforts of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other relevant agencies in tackling the nation’s security challenges, maintaining that the delivery of dividends of democracy would suffer setbacks in the absence of adequate security of lives and property.
Rising from the weekly State Security Council meeting on Friday, the Joint Task Force Commander, Major General Bata Debiro said security measures have been put in place to curb the activities of the vandals on the state waterways.
For effective policing, General Debiro said the security operatives would require more gunboats and other logistics to step up their efforts in checking criminal activities on the waterways in the states of the Niger Delta region.
He also noted that the flow line from Nembe to Bonny has been shut down for repairs, stating that the state government has promised to offer assistance to enable security agents carry out patrols on the waterways.
In his words: “We had a meeting with the governor to brainstorm and collaborate with other security agencies and the SPDC representatives on the way forward to curb pipeline vandalism, illegal bunkering and oil theft in the Niger Delta.” We have looked into where we have challenges most especially logistics and we will require more gun boats to be able to conduct aggressive patrols on the waterways and the creeks especially in the Nembe, Brass up to Bonny in Rivers State.”
In a related development, Governor Dickson while receiving the Zonal Commandant, Zone G, National Security and Civil Defence Corps, Assistant Commandant General Joseph Oragande, underscored the importance of law and order in society, the governor maintained that the delivery of dividends of democracy would suffer setbacks in the absence of security.
He said it was in realization of this that his administration enacted appropriate legislations to drive its policy of zero tolerance for crime, criminality and violence soon after assumption of office.
Justifying government’s investment in the security sub-sector, Governor Dickson described Bayelsa as one of the safest states in the country where investors can operate in with peace of mind.
Responding to the NSCDC’s requests, Hon. Dickson assured the visiting Commandant of his administration’s preparedness to provide an enabling operating environment for the corps within the limits of available resources.
He specifically directed the Chief of Staff, Government House and his Special Adviser on Security to liaise with the Corps to enable government provide the most pressing needs for the agency.
Earlier in his remarks, the Zonal Commandant of Zone G, Assistant Commandant General, Joseph Oragande commended Governor Dickson for his developmental strides and continued partnership with security agencies in the state.
According to Mr. Oragande, he was in the state at the instance of the NSCDC’s Commandant General, Dr. Ade Abolurin to oversee a sensitization seminar on the activities of the corps in the maintenance of law and order.
He requested the state government to assist the corps with a befitting office accommodation, two operational vehicles and a patrol boat.
