Imoke commends Federal Government on Joint Task Force - 17/5/08

Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River has commended the Federal Government for the formation of a Joint Military Task Force in order to instill security across the country.

While receiving the General Officer Commanding 82 Division Nigeria Army, Enugu, Major General Adamu T. Ibrahim in Calabar on Thursday, Imoke noted that the Joint Task Force which had been in operation in the past years has played a formidable role in checking various vices in the society, stressing that the state places emphasis on security because of its focus on tourism.

Imoke who described Cross River as the safest state in Nigeria, said this has been achieved due to the presence of many military formations in the state, adding that he is pleased with the leadership of the various military formations sent to work in the state.

According to Imoke the state has an age long relationship with the army as the Akim Barracks, which is the oldest army barrack in the country is located in Calabar and that efforts are at hand to renovate the office of the Colonial Governor General located within the barracks into a historic site because of its relevance to Nigerian political history.

“Akim barracks is a historic that must be preserved ask the seat of government during the colonial era, and the structures should be renovated to a dignified slate as tourist sites land be preserved for history”, while commending the army for the cordial relationships that exists between them and the people of the state.

He promised to assist the task force in the state by providing some logistics to boost its functions, saying apart from tourism, Cross River is a border town and there is need to ensure security while promising to look into the land disputes between the army and the state.

The General Officer commanding 82 division, Nigerian Army Enugu, Major General Adamu T. Ibrahim appreciated the age long relationship between the state and the army as well as the support which the army has received from government in various ways to boost its operations in the state.

Ibrahim appealed to Imoke to allow the Army Brigade in Calabar take over the security of Tinapa Business Resort because of its location and business relevance to the West African sub Zone, adding that though they are committed to the security of the state, soldiers on patrol should be supplied with bullet proof vest to enhance their operations while requesting for additional vehicles to assist them.

Government House Press