Officials of the Nigerian Navy on Saturday met with Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State in furtherance of discussion on approval given by President Muhammadu Buhari for the drainage of Orashi River in Oguta to link the Atlantic Ocean for the enhancement of economic activities on that corridor.
President Buhari had
communicated his approval for the project through the Office of the Chief of
Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, based on Governor Uzodimma's
proposal that the Orashi River in Oguta is pregnant with lots of economic
activities if drained and linked to the Atlantic Ocean.
At the meeting which
held at the Government House Owerri, Rear Admiral Silyranda Lassa represented
the Chief of Naval Staff.
Addressing the media on
the essence of his meeting with the Navy, Governor Uzodimma said it was in
furtherance of the discussions and proposals by the Imo State Government
to the Federal Government to pursue her Gas Industrialization Policy on the
Oguta Lake and Orashi River axis.
He said that the
leadership of Nigerian Navy were in the State to "visit the site to assess
the main obstacles hindering the programme as proposed by the State
Government."
Governor Uzodimma said
that the Government of Imo State had "considered it expedient to propose
to Nigerian Navy for a partnership to open the access of Oguta Lake and Orashi
River up to the Sea in River State to enable bigger vessels come into Imo
State."
The Governor said:
"When realised the project will help manage the security situation in the
area, eliminate cases of crude oil stealing, pipeline vandalism and enhance
security."
Additionally, he said
the realisation of the project will "stimulate economic activities, create
more jobs for our people and then boost the economy of the State."
Governor Uzodimma said
the Naval Officers who are in the State will visit the site tomorrow, Saturday,
September 24, 2022, and thereafter "Government will sign a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) leading to the project implementation proper."
He described the
project as work in progress, assuring that "when the MOU is signed and the
other processes concluded the authorities will come up with the work programme
highlights which will be made available to the public."
Speaking on the reason
for their meeting/visit, Rear Admiral Silyranda Lassa who represented
Rear Admiral Gambo said recently they "established a Naval Base at
Oguta which has helped in addressing certain security challenges in the
area."
"Beyond that, it
has made social and economic activities to strive, especially with giant
strides in the security areas made the State Government."
Furthermore,
Lassa said as a Maritime Security Agency the corridor will provide them with
the opportunity "to also assist the State in any way they can and in some
certain aspects, the State's desire to at least alleviate what they are seeing as
the de-generalization activities within the State."
The Naval Chief also
informed that they were in Imo "at the instant of the Chief of Naval Staff
to look at where we will partner with the State Government to assist in some of
these areas and help the State benefit from her enormous resources."
He acknowledged that a
lot of natural resources abound in the area and that when they are opened up
"Imo State will be one of the leading States in the Gas industrialization
activities in Nigeria."
Lassa added that in the
course of their visit, the Hydrographer of Nigerian Navy will look at the area
under examination and carry out the survey. "They will be able to chart
appropriate areas they think that will be in cheapest possible manner they can
achieve the mandate to the State," he said.
He acknowledged that
the Geographic Department of the Nigerian Navy has already started the
dredging/expansion and survey of the River Niger which started from Lokoja,
noting that work has progressed up to Burutu.
"Once this is completed the entire aspect of
the survey is done. It will be left for the Federal Government to do the
needful and the expansion of that axis. So when the corridor is expanded it
will open up the area to the benefit of Imo State and Country in general."
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