Dickson seeks army support towards crime free state

GOVERNOR Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has called on the Nigerian Army to support the state in ensuring that crime and criminality is outlawed in the creeks and to strengthen collaboration towards the development of education and other sectors in the state.

The governor made the remarks while receiving the visiting Chief of Army Staff, lieutenant General Tukur Burutai on a courtesy visit at his office in Yenagoa on Tuesday. He commended the Federal government and the Nigerian Army for making good their promise of establishing 16 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Yenagoa, stressing that it would further strengthen the bond of relationship between the government and the military Authority.

Dickson said the establishment of the Brigade would complement his administration’s efforts of ridding the state of criminal activities. He says, it is obvious that the government has a clear agenda on security and so it is commendable, as the base will be operationalized, he also called on the Army high command to give the brigade all that is needed for a smooth operation.

He called on the Nigerian Army to take quick advantage of the land provided by the government to bring about development in the state with erecting structures like army schools, and hospitals, he also presented a letter of collaboration to the Chief of Army staff to partner with the Ijaw National Academy which is cut across in all Local Government Areas.

He also thanked them for the proposed Battalion at Nembe, which would assist in addressing some of the maritime challenges in the area and also asked them to operationalize the battalion in no distant time. General Burutai accompanied by the governor shortly after the meeting, commissioned the new Brigade base and assured the people of the commitment of the Nigerian Army to bring peace and stability to the state.

He stated that Bayelsa is strategic to the economic development of the Country and as a result the security agents have major role to play in securing the state. General Burutai further thanked the governor, and assured that Military Authority would not hesitate in supporting the government to achieve his lofty ambition of repositioning the state and make it safe haven for investors.

Reiterating his commitment to peace and stability of the state, the governor called on the Army Authority to tell the good story of the state, submitting that this is the only way to attract local and foreign investors.

Earlier in his remarks, General Tukur thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the approval of 16 Brigade of the Nigerian Army base in Bayelsa and recalled that last year the Army council proposed a brigade base to be cited in Yenagoa and this has been fulfilled.

He described Bayelsa state as a strategic location with boundaries with the Atlantic Ocean and at a strategic cross line and disclosed that the brigade is working to establish the next unit in Nembe.

He thanked the governor for the support so far shown to the Nigerian army in Bayelsa state, and congratulated him on his new office, describing it as a landmark achievement. He thanked Bayelsans in general for their support and promised that the Nigerian Army would reciprocate by working with other security outfits to ensure that there is calm in the state. Speaking with journalists, commissioner for information and orientation, Hon. Jonathan Obuebite says that the governor will stop at nothing to ensure that Bayelsa state is safe, and when that is done there would be no limit to the number of investors and investments that will be done in the state and that would be in all sectors of the economy.

Obuebite called on Bayelsans to work with the various security agents as all that is been put in place is for the good of all and should not be politicized by any person or group of persons.