Swing to the increasing activities of oil exploration and the reactivation of the muilt-billion naira Aluminum Smelter Company, Akwa Ibom State government has called on the Federal Government to establish a Naval Base in Ikot Abasi.

The State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, made the call when the flag officer commanding the Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Adisa Rafi paid him a country visit at the Government House in Uyo

The agitation, according to Governor Akpabio, was also necessary because of the strategic location of the state in the Niger Delta region that calls for maximum protection of the states waterways.

The governor noted with regret that this time, the state was passing through a very difficult period, following the influx of people displaced due to the Federal Government handing over of Bakassi peninsular to the Republic of Cameroon

He explained that his administration, having set up a committee to look into the possibilities of establishing a Naval Base in Ikot Abasi, was willing to donate land to the Federal Government in realisation of the project for the security of the state and the nation in general.

"We still remain committed to ensure that we have Naval operational base here and we are ready to give the necessary support and an expanse of land for the immediate take off of the Base so as to help check the menace of militants and armed robbers prowling our waterways'.

While expressing appreciation to the cooperation of officers and men of the Nigerian Navy which the people have enjoined so far, he assured that the contract for the road leading to the Forward Operation Base of the Navy at Ibaka, would be awarded as soon as the dry season sets in. He pledged that his administration will continue to support all security agencies in the state to enable them perform creditably.

Earlier, the flag officer commanding the Eastern Naval command, Rear Admiral Rafi, told the state governor that he was in the state on a working visit, and that the request for the establishment of a naval operation base at Ikot Abasi as canvassed by the government and the people of the state, had already been forwarded to the Federal Government for consideration.

Rear Admiral Rafi solicited the assistance of the Akwa Ibom State government for the rehabilitation of the road leading to the Naval Base and called on the government to procure two speed boats for use by the Navy to check the menace of militants along Akwa Ibom Water ways.