The Cross River State Acting Governor, Mr. Efiok Cobham has called on the Eastern Naval Command to fast tract the Proposed Joint Patrol of the Bakassi Water ways to stem the tide of piracy and bunkering in the area.
The Acting Governor made the call in Calabar, when he granted audience to the outgoing Flag Officer of the Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Olufemi Ogungimi and the outgoing Commander of the NNS Victory, Commodore Kingdom Itoko, who paid him a courtesy call at his office.
Bakassi, the Acting Governor observed, is rated as the highest point of piracy activities in Cross River State and should be nipped in the bud since government owes the Bakassi people protection of their lives and property.
Cobham, while commending the Navy for checking the activities of bunkering, which is a crime against the economy of the nation, called for
a more cordial relationship between the State Government and the Navy to completely put an end to bunkery activities in the state.
The outgoing Flag Officer Commanding of the Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Olufemi Ogungimi lauded the cordial relationship existing between the government and people of the state, and solicited for more support and cooperation from the state government towards his successor.