Uyo — Akwa Ibom State government has called on the Federal Government to consider the establishment of a naval base in the state as a necessity, to retain the confidence of companies and expatriate workers in the state.

The state Governor, Godswill Akpabio, who made the call when the out-going Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Eastern Naval Command, Admiral B. A. Raji, visited him at Government House, Uyo, added that the importance of a naval base in the state could not be over emphasised.

Akpabio told the FOC who was accompanied by his successor, Rear Admiral I. B. Acholonu, that protecting the territorial waters of the state should be a national priority, in view of its contributions to national revenue profile.

"With Akwa Ibom presently generating 50 per cent of national crude demand, it was important to retain the confidence of companies and expatriate workers in the state," he said.

He acknowledged the significant contributions of leadership of the Eastern Naval Command to the overall security of the state, adding that preliminary works on the establishment of a Naval Base in the state had since been done.

Speaking earlier, Raji said he was at the Government House to commend government for the cooperation he received during his 19 months stay at the command and to introduce his successor.