Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has constituted an Evaluation Committee for the establishment of a Naval Base in the state.
Speaking while receiving the Naval team from the Naval Headquarters in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Governor Abiodun noted with delight the zeal exhibited by the Chief of Naval Staff in setting up the team, saying the establishment of a Naval Base would help to further secure the state.
“A few weeks ago, I held a meeting with the new Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command and in that meeting, I shared a vision of Ogun State Multi-modal Transportation Master Plan made up of road, rail and Water transportation.
“We have implemented that of road and rail except that of water transportation. It is important that ahead of the implementation of the water transportation of our Multi-modal Transportation Master Plan, we have a feasible presence of the Nigerian Navy beyond the Navy school that have been here for many years.
“I want to assure you that the benefits will be mutual. We will complement this Committee with people from our state who are competent and will adds value to the Committee,” the governor noted.
He said the the state in the past had been longing to have a dry port and airport until his administration succeeded in building the airport, adding that the seaport, which has been in the drawing board for long, would also see the light of the day.
The governor said though operations have not started at the Gateway Agro-Cargo International Airport, many institutions and corporate bodies have indicated interest to take over and run the airport.
He said: “We have succeeded in building one of the best airport in Nigeria. Even though operations have not started, many renowned corporate bodies have indicated interest to take over and run it in line with global best practices.
“The same zeal we use for the airport will be the same we will use for the seaport which will be Nigeria’s biggest seaport and this will call for serious Naval presence.”
Governor Abiodun reiterated that he had discussions with the Benin Republic President of his intension to be feasible on the Tongeji Island, assuring that the Beninoise have been cooperating on issues that would bring development to both countries.
The governor appreciated the Navy for cooperating and collaborating with other security agencies to keep the peace in the state, saying the state would appreciate the posting of OP. WASE component of the Navy to beef up security in the state.
Speaking earlier, the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Mustapha Hassan, expressed the need to beef security in the state as the result of a slight increase in crime rate in recent times.
He said the visit was to follow up on the discussion he had with the governor to set up a Naval Base in the state.
Head of the Committee, Rear Admiral M. Oamen thanked the state government for the support the Navy has received in the past 25 years, emphasizing that the Chief of Naval Staff and members of the Committee are committed to the success of the project.
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