A campus of the proposed Nigerian Navy University may soon be established at Ekparakwa, in Akwa Ibom state.
The Chief of Naval staff, Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibbas, dropped the hint during a meeting with the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Udom Emmanuel, in Uyo.
Vice Admiral Ibbas says the decision of the state government to offer the Nigerian Navy a place to establish its campus is as a result of the good working relationship with the state in the last 23 years.
He lauded the state administration for giving out the special technical school to the command to establish an institution which would complement the Naval university as a campus.
Vice Admiral Ibbas particularly expressed gratitude to Governor Emmanuel for the various support to aid the naval infrastructure ranging from land at Uta Ewa, Essene and the jetty to aid in their operation and the provision of two gun boats to boost the Naval logistics.
The Naval boss stressed the force’s commitment to ensuring that the waterways were no safe haven for criminals.
“Officers and men have intensified surveillance to guarantee safety of facilities and people in the Territorial waters,” he told the governor.
On his part, Governor Emmanuel said another school would be approved for the establishment of a Navy Secondary School and urged the Navy to protect the shorelines and guarantee security in the area for various business operations such as the petrochemical industries, Deep Seaport and other infrastructures in the territorial waters.
Governor Emmanuel informed the Navy officers of the construction of a dual carriage road at Ibaka to the oil and gas firm at Urue Offong and Udung Uko to ease traffic to the Deep Seaport.
He reiterated the commitment of the state government to partnering with security agencies in the area to ensure safety of lives and property.
Mr Emmanuel also urged the Navy to keep an eye on the waterways to forestall reported cases of terrorism by criminals in some fishing islands.
The Chief of Naval Staff was accompanied by the top officials of the Nigerian Navy in Brass.
