Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has pleaded with Naval authorities for support in terms of more personnel for the state to enhance security.
This is as he noted that security remains a priority on his administration’s agenda and, therefore will strive to sustain it.
Otti made this appeal on Thursday when he received a delegation of the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command, Lagos, Rear Admiral Ignatius Albara, who was in the state on a familiarisation tour of the Nigeria Navy College of Accounting and Finance, Owerrinta.
Otti noted that security is paramount for the government because all its initiatives will amount to nothing if security fails.
He sais that in the last 10 months, all security outfits in the state have been working tirelessly to ensure adequate security for the state.
The governor disclosed that his government has set up an inter-agency outfit, Operation Crush, dedicated to ensuring maximum security in the state, which has been successful.
He said, “Here, we take security seriously. In fact, it is the number one item on our agenda, simply because all the initiatives we have will come to nothing if security fails.
“We’ve been working in close partnership with the college and Eyitayo (O.E Eyitayo, Commandant, Nigeria Navy College of Accounting and Finance) is part of our government, virtually everything we do in terms of security, he is involved.
“In the last 10 months, the police, the Army, the DSS, the civil defence, and the NDLEA, collectively, we have all been working together to ensure that this place is crime-free.
“We set up an interagency operation called “Operation Crush,” and we have men drawn from different security agencies who are dedicated 24/7 to ensuring maximum security.”
While appealing to the Flag Officer for support in terms of more personnel for the state to enhance security, Otti said the state government is working in close partnership with the college and used the forum to appreciate the commandant of the college for his commitment.
Earlier, the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command, Albara, said he was in the state for a familiarisation tour to the Nigerian Navy College of Accounting and Finance, Owerrinta, having assumed duties a few weeks ago.
“It is customary that when one takes over office, you familiarise yourself with what is happening at the professional schools and to evaluate and see the challenges they have. It is on that note that we are here today to visit the College of Finance. We thought it necessary since the college is here in Abia under you,” he explained.
He further commended the governor for his giant strides in the state and the generous support given to the college to make their work easier.
Also speaking, the Commandant, Nigeria Navy College of Accounting and Finance, O.E Eyitayo appreciated Otti for his support to the college and the combined security team in the state which has made their job easier.