Amosun alerts on oil-rich island in Ogun

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NIGERIA: OGUN State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has raised alarm that all necessary steps should to be taken now to prevent Nigeria from losing the oil-rich Tongeji Island in his state to the neighbouring country.

The governor said any laxity on the part of government could lead to the people of the area experiencing the same fate as Bakassi indigenes over the oil peninsula that was awarded to Cameroon by the World Court.

In order to prevent such occurrence, Amosun appealed to the military to help secure the island, which is a border town between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin.

The Governor cried out when he received the new General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Isidore Edet, in his Abeokuta office.

He told Edet that he had informed the President on his fear and the challenges facing the state in its desire to secure the oil-rich island.
Amosun told his guest that besides the Nigerian Navy deployed to the island, government needs to do more to secure the area, failure of which Benin Republic may claim it.

The Governor praised the Nigerian military on its bravery and doggedness in battling the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram in the North-East.

Amosun, who said he was pleased on the number of towns recovered from the insurgents, praised the military task force, OP MESA, on its synergy with the police to rid the state of criminals.

He promised that his government would continue to aid and encourage the security agencies in the state to be more productive, while stressing that no meaningful development could thrive in an atmosphere of insecurity.

The new GOC on the occasion said that the island was among the array of issues brought to his attention on assumption of office.

Edet promised Amosun that the report on the island would be forwarded to the chief of army staff for the required steps to be taken.