….anniunces donation of 100 Hilux vans to Police
The Rivers State Government has donated fourteen ballistic gunboats to security agencies in the state.
The donation brings to thirty-four the total number of gunboats handed over to security agencies by the Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike administration.
Out of the fourteen gunboats, seven were given to the Nigerian Navy, three to the Nigerian Army, two to the Police and one to Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC.
Speaking during the inauguration of the gunboats held at the Nigerian Navy Ship Pathfinder, Naval Base, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Governor Wike urged the security agencies to use the gunboats to patrol the territorial waters of the state, fight crime, illegal oil bunkering and sea pirates in the waterways.
Governor Wike observed that the gunboats will reduce the illegal oil bunkering and other associated crimes in the state, and sued for synergy among security agencies to stop illegal refining activities in the state.
The Governor who accused security agencies of involvement in the illegal oil refining business, emphasized that all stakeholders must join forces to salvage the country by stopping the menace which he observed tends to injure the mainstay of the nation’s economy.
He reiterated his commitment to ensure that illegal oil refining activities are put to stop in the state and urged the security agencies not to divert the gunboats to other states.
Governor Wike also assured of providing necessary logistics to ensure that the gunboats are effectively put to use and announced that the state government will be donating about One Hundred Hilux security vehicles to the police in the next few days.
Inaugurating the gunboats, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo who noted the challenges confronting the navy in protecting the nations territorial waters, said the gunboats would compliment efforts of the navy and other security agencies in securing the state maritime environment.
Vice Admiral Gambo said with the gunboats coming at a time that the federal government had declared zero tolerance for illegal bunkering activities, they would be used to step up the fight against illegal oil refining activities and criminality on the waterways.
He commended Governor Wike for his fight against illegal oil bunkering, particularly the directives on Local Government Council Chairmen to clamp down operators of the nefarious activities and destroy their camps, which has drastically reduced the environmental pollution in Port Harcourt and boost the state’s economy.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral I. A. Dewu noted that the donation will enhance the security architecture in the state and spur the navy and other security agencies to ensure the security and protection of critical national assets in the state.
