In a strategic move to boost maritime security, the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has procured 14 patrol boats for the Joint Maritime Task Force (JMTF) to addresses security gaps in areas where Naval, Army, and Police gunboats face limitations, especially within shallow waters.
Gen. Koko Essien (Rtd), the Commissioner for Internal Security and Waterways, stated this during the government’s ministerial media briefing held in Uyo on Friday.
He emphasised that the establishment of the JMTF, led by NNS JUBILEE, reflects Governor Eno’s strong commitment to strengthening security within the state’s maritime domain.
In addition to the boats, Governor Eno has significantly enhanced the state’s response capabilities by purchasing and distributing 17 patrol vehicles equipped with advanced communication systems, primarily to the Police Force.
Essien said the government, since the inception of Pastor Eno’s administration, has collaborated closely with various military services to establish new military bases across Akwa Ibom, thereby improving security on land and waterways and boosting investor confidence.
Key developments, according to the Commissioner, include the establishment of a Nigerian Army Battalion’s Forward Operational Base (FOB) in Urue-Offong/Oruko LGA, with plans to expand battalions in Eket and Obot Akara LGAs, as well as the Navy’s upgraded outpost/base in Stubbs Creek further strengthens maritime security.
Gen. Essien noted, “The maritime environment continues to provide the leverage for economic development of the State through the marine economy, including our oil and gas facilities, most of which are domiciled within the waterways. Development of this Base will strengthen the navy’s capacity to influence security activities within the region”.
He also highlighted the Nigerian Air Force’s 309 Composite Base in Eket, which has been expanded from the former Mobil Airstrip into a full multi-role facility hosting various aircraft, adding that the base would play a vital role in safeguarding the state’s land and maritime assets, including critical oil and gas infrastructure, and contributes to security efforts in the Gulf of Guinea.
Other security initiatives Essien listed under the state’s ARISE Agenda include the soon-to-be commissioned Command and Control Center (C2C), a centralised, technology-driven security and emergency response facility, along with the construction of a Police Counter-Terrorism Unit (CTU) Base.
He said Governor Eno has formally integrated Village Youth Presidents from each of the2,272 gazetted villages into the state’s informal security framewors to support intelligence gathering, early warning systems, and protection of vital public infrastructure within their communities.
Gen. Essien clarified, “I will like to reiterate that the Village Youth Presidents as a structure, remains under the Ministry of Youth Development, but through an inter-ministerial arrangement, will provide security services in line with this mandate, as coordinated by the Ministry of Internal Security and Waterways (MISW).”
He said the ministry has continued to serve as the focal point for security support across multiple government agencies, coordinating traffic and transport management with the Ministry of Transport, anti-grazing operations with Agriculture and Justice ministries, and enforcement in partnership with Uyo Capital City Development Authority (UCCDA) and Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency (AKSEPWMA).
Beyond federal security agencies, Essien said the ministry leverages numerous informal security structures to enhance intelligence sharing, crowd control, and community safety within the state.
