Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has urged the Nigerian Army to support his administration in the fight against kidnapping and theft of petroleum products in the state.
Uduaghan said while the problem of insecurity had been drastically reduced, there were emerging challenges in the area of maintaining the peace in the state.
The governor made this comment on Sunday, during the visit of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, and the leadership of the Nigerian Army, to tell the governor of the 2012 Annual Chief of Army Staff Conference, scheduled to commence in Asaba on Monday.
Uduaghan stated that the Commander of the 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Benin, Brig Gen. Obi Omahi, and the Commander of the Nigerian Army Battalion in Effunrun, Colonel I. Otu, had been so helpful in responding to urgent security issues in the state.
He said the Delta State Government would sustain the productive working relationship with the Nigerian Army by ensuring that things needed to enhance the performance of their security responsibilities were provided.
He said the military had contributed immensely in making the state peaceful and secure.
He said, “One of the three major agenda of this government is ensuring that there is peace and security; and in achieving that agenda, the Army has played a very big role in ensuring that there is peace and security.
“Sometimes, some of the issues are overwhelming for the other security agencies and we had to call the Army and they have done so creditably.
“By God’s Grace, the Niger Delta crisis is not as bad as it used to be, but there is a challenge of maintaining the peace.
“We know that there are emerging new crimes like kidnapping, illegal bunkering, but I know that with the cooperation of your men on the ground, we are gradually surmounting all those challenges.”
Speaking earlier, Ihejirika commended the governor for the construction of a classroom building for children of military personnel at the Effurrun Barracks, and the jetty which according to him, would aid the efforts of the military to ensure the maintenance of peace and security in the state.
The Army Chief said he and the leadership of the Nigerian Army were in Asaba to attend the Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference which was a period of stocktaking and to discuss challenges and proffer the necessary solutions.
“The COAS annual conference provides opportunity for the Army to take stock of its activities in the year and to discuss challenges and proffer ways forward,” he said.
Punch
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