In a bid to address growing security and welfare concerns in Bonny Local Government Area (LGA), service commanders in Rivers State, on the directive of the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral (rtd) Ibok-Ete Ibas, held a high-level stakeholders meeting on Tuesday, May 13.
The Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, led the delegation, which included heads of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS Pathfinder), 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Department of State Services (DSS). He stated that the visit was to assess the challenges in Bonny and relay them to the state government for prompt intervention.
“We are here on the directive of the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (rtd) Ibok-Ete Ibas, to engage with you on issues affecting security and welfare. Bonny hosts critical national assets vital to the economy, and it is essential we work together to safeguard them.” He urged residents to collaborate with local security agencies and the LGA leadership to improve safety, infrastructure, and public services.In his welcome address, the Administrator of Bonny LGA, Kingsley Banigo, emphasized the importance of the meeting in enhancing peace and development.
Related: Rivers Governor Warns Followers to Seek His Approval Before Acting
“Our unity is paramount. By working together, we can ensure Bonny remains peaceful and benefits from improved security and welfare,” he said. Youth and community leaders used the opportunity to highlight key challenges facing the area. Banigo Anthony, President of the Bonny Youth Federation, decried the LGA’s long-standing neglect, citing poor infrastructure, abandoned schools, and insecurity on waterways due to sea piracy and kidnapping.
Also Read: Fatal Crash in Port Harcourt Kills Six, Driver Flees
He called for the completion of the Bonny Ring Road and enhanced security presence.Okereke Jonathan Ekine, NYSC liaison officer in the area, appealed for a dedicated corpers’ lodge and better transport support for corps members crossing the river into Bonny.Helen Jack-Wilson Pepple, leader of the Bonny Women Forum, reported a recent kidnapping incident on the waterways and raised concerns over increasing drug abuse and cultism.
She urged the government to improve internal roads and address the social vices plaguing the community.Peter Ability, Secretary of the Non-Indigenes Without Borders group, lamented the limited job opportunities for non-indigenes, linking unemployment to rising crime. Fred Stephen Pepple, a representative of Bonny’s titled citizens, advocated for enhanced intelligence gathering, establishment of a neighborhood watch, and the speedy completion of the Bodo-Bonny Road.
Speaking for the Ijaw Youth Council, Charles Banigo criticized oil companies for failing to support local transportation needs and excluding Bonny indigenes from employment. He also noted the lack of visible projects from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). Jude Joshua Pepple, President of the Bonny Graduate Forum, called for scholarships for undergraduates and postgraduates to empower the youth.
The Vice Chairman of the Bonny Chiefs Council, Jack Wilson Pepple, urged the state government to act swiftly on the issues raised. He emphasized the community’s preference for dialogue over violence and expressed disappointment over unfulfilled agreements by multinational companies. “We want our grievances addressed by the Sole Administrator. Despite our peaceful disposition, Bonny has not benefited adequately from NDDC projects.
We need a specialized hospital and a health assessment for our people,” he said. Our correspondent reports that the service commanders also visited the Bonny General Hospital and the abandoned Modern Primary School for inspection.
