The Chairman of Bonny Local Government Area, David Rogers Irimagha says his administration was ready to partner willing groups to address security challenges on the waterways in the area.

Irimagha said this yesterday when the “Enough Is Enough” Group led by its Convener and former Secretary General of the Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC) Worldwide, Emmanuel Bristol-Alagbariyagha paid him a courtesy visit in his office at the Bonny Local Government Council Secretariat.

The Bonny LG boss, who later took the group, alongside some journalists on a project inspection tour to avail them an on-the-spot assessment of projects being executed by his administration, praised the group for their forthrightness in pursuing partnerships and collaborations with the goal of highlighting the challenges being faced by travellers on the Bonny-Port Harcourt sea route.

“It is all about criticism, positive criticism. I have just realised that the group is a very sensitive and articulated group. And for them to come up at this point in time to say this before all of us that we have made impact in securing the lives and properties of our people here, I think it is something worthy of note”.

He thanked the group for their understanding of the challenges facing the LGA and the strategic measures being put in place by his administration in conjunction with the security agencies to address such challenges, commending them for the excellent jobs they were doing across the Niger Delta region in their effort to muster a collective response to the security challenges facing the riverine parts of the State.

“I strongly appreciate this (Enough is Enough) group to have deemed it fit to have come down and said guys, you have done well but still do more, instead of going to the negative all the time. It means this is a positive-oriented organization”.

He reiterated his resolve to work in synergy with relevant stakeholders, especially, the security agencies to nip the menace of sea piracy on the waterways in the bud.

“I have been having a tete-a-tete with the security outfits, we have been discussing in-depth, we have been discussing ideas, we have been talking together a lot. The collaboration and the spirit amongst us is so high as such that we understand each other2.

“The moment there is any breakdown of law and order, I bet you in Bonny, before you say Jack Robinson, you will see all the security men there. Even when I am not around, you will think I’m around. At the moment you will see them both land and sea”.

He noted that though there were still some challenges with security, his administration was working assiduously to confront such challenges head-on, pointing out that “It is quite unfortunate that we had some incidents but I can be seen by all that the security men are working”.

“Just a few weeks ago, some of these culprits that have been terrorising us within our waterways. Some of them after having some form of gun battle with the security agencies were actually brutally gunned down. It is worthwhile for us to commend the security agencies”.

“The security of any region is by collaboration. Security is everybody’s business. You do not say I don’t care, my parents are not here, and my family is not here. Somehow, one of your community persons might be here. So, it is everybody’s business”.

“We have to stand as to protect and defend our people by giving useful information. That is the only way to help the security agencies to strive along. What is happening is a great challenge. But as the Leader of legislature had said, the security challenges have been brought down to the barest minimum”.

Earlier, Convener of the Enough is Enough Group, Emmanuel Bristol-Alagbariyagha had expressed satisfaction over the efforts of the Bonny LGA Chairman, David Irimagha in tackling the security challenges facing the area, while commending him for his administration’s policy thrust, ‘OLGA Reform’, which aims at pursuing developmental initiatives across the LGA.

He praised the quality of projects being executed by his administration, noting that the projects when completed will add value to the living standards of the people, urging him to fast-track their completion wit a view to preparing Bonny for the population explosion that will be a fallout of the Nigeria LNG train 7.

Highpoint of the event was the presentation of plaques of partnership and appreciation by Engr. Bristol-Alagbariyagha to the Chairman, Bonny LGA, Leader of Bonny Legislative Assembly, Miriam Hart, and heads of the various security agencies in the LGA.

The Bonny LGA Chairman was accompanied by his Vice, Anengi Barasua, Leader of Bonny Legislative Assembly, Miriam Hart, Secretary to the Local Government Council, Omoni Longjohn, Councillors of Ward 2, Kingston Roberts Hart, Ward 2, Fiberesima Pepple, who is also the Chief Whip of the house, Ward 5, Ibianga Brown, Ward 6, Esther Pepple, Ward 8, Mie-Iyeoju Jumbo, Ward 9, Prince Wilcox, Ward 10, Seth Adolphus, Ward 11, Ibinye Igoni-Wilcox, and Ward 12, Solomon Pollyn.

Others were the Legal Adviser, Victor Pepple, Supervisor for Works, Daniel Wilcox-Buruwi, Supervisor For Education, Christaben Frank-Hart, Supervisor for Youths And Sports, Hamilton Bob-Hart, Supervisor For Agriculture, Isaac Jumbo, Supervisor For Health, Pafuro Tolofari, Special Advisers to the Chairman, Mentus Agamekwe, Samuel Jumbo, and Mieadonye Halliday.

Also in attendance at the meeting were the heads of the various security agencies in Bonny LGA including the Divisional Police Officers of Bonny, CSP Shu’aib Achigili, and Finima, CSP Bashir Kontagora, Commander, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Kaizer Nelson, and Officer-in-charge, Nigeria Police, Marine Division, Solomon Adeniyi.

Others were representatives of the Commanding Officer, Forward Operating Base, Nigerian Navy, Bonny, Joint Taskforce (JTF), Bonny, Lt. P.E. Ojediran, Head, Local Government Bureau, Department of State Services (DSS), Joseph Chinem, and Commander, Special Intelligence and Investigation Bureau, Nigeria Police, Goodluck Nwibaedee, amongst others.