By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
KOGI State House of Assembly has called on the Nigeria Police Force to immediately rehabilitate and reconstruct the collapsed Marine Police Station in Lokoja to restore its functionality and ensure a secure and conducive working environment for the officers.
This is contained in a resolution of the House issued following the adoption of a motion presented by Hon. Bin Ebaiya Shehu-Tijani at plenary sitting on Thursday in Lokoja.
The House expressed the view that an adequately equipped and functional Marine Police Station would help curtail the rising crime wave across the state and the country and criminals now exploit inland waterways transportation.
The Kogi 8th Assembly also called for encouragement of a collaborative approach between critical stakeholders involving the State Government, the Nigeria Police Force, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).
Also to be involved are the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NIMASA,) and other relevant security bodies to develop a suitable strategy for inland waterways security and support for Marine Police.
The House also called on the Federal Government to adequately fund and provide modern security infrastructure, including speed boats, surveillance technology, and communication gadgets to enhance the operational efficiency of marine police units in Kogi State.
It further called for the integration of the state into national inland water security initiatives, ensuring that it benefits from funding, training programmes, and strategic security deployments.
Presenting the motion earlier, Hon. Bin Ebaiya Shehu-Tijani (APC-Lokoja 1) said growing up in Lokoja, the Marine Police worked efficiently to the admiration of all in saving lives and addressing security issues from water transportation.
He said that it would be noted that the security and economic prosperity of Kogi State are closely tied to the effective operation of its inland waterways and its functionality.
The Marine Police, he said served multi-faceted functions including protection of lives and property as well as prevention of criminal activities such as smuggling, piracy, human trafficking and illegal fishing within the waterways.
“The Marine Police that can guarantee the safety and security of waterways commuters, riverine transporters and merchants alike, is in a dilapidated state.
“Its office in Lokoja here has partly collapsed and generally in deplorable condition”, he said.
Ruling on the motion, the Speaker Pro-Tempore who is also the Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt Hon. Comfort Ojoma Egwaba said as somebody from a riverine community, she was well aware of the importance of Marine Police.
She pointed out that a lot of crime is being committed through waterways adding that when criminals are that the highways are secured and too hot for them, they go through the waterways.
“And so, there is need for us to really have a functional marine station. And I want to thank the mover of this motion for drawing the nation’s attention to this critical stake holding security outfit.
The Speaker, following a wholesome “Ayes” when the questions were put, adopted the motion and directed the Clerk of the House to communicate the resolution to the appropriate quarters.
Also at Thursday plenary, the House screened and approved the reappointment of the Chairman of the state Civil Service Commission, Barr Mohammed Tanko Musa and three of his members for another tenure of five years.
The Chairman, on behalf of the members, pledged to continue with the good work promising better days for workers in the state to promotion cash backing and other incentives. (Ends)