Stakeholders in Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have thrown their weight behind the proposed establishment of a naval base in Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve.
They also commended Governor Umo Eno for supporting a project they described as strategic to maritime security, coastal protection and economic development.
The stakeholders, under the aegis of the Ibeno Elders Forum, also called on the state and federal governments to expedite the necessary legal, environmental and administrative processes towards actualising the project.
Speaking with reporters in Upenekang, Ibeno Local Government Area, on Saturday, the Forum’s spokesman and secretary, Mr Diamond Akpanika, a lawyer ,praised Governor Eno for recognising the strategic importance of Ibeno’s coastal location and supporting an initiative capable of strengthening security along the nation’s waterways.
Akpanika said the proposed naval facility transcended the immediate security needs of Akwa Ibom, noting that it had wider implications for Nigeria’s maritime security, protection of oil and gas infrastructure, coastal economy, food security and national development.
He added that the project, if implemented, would create employment opportunities, stimulate economic activities and deliver significant social benefits to host communities.
On the contentious issue of ownership, Akpanika maintained that Ibeno had longstanding historical and territorial interests in Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve, claiming that approximately 70 per cent of the reserve fell within the community’s traditional territory.
He said the state government’s identification of Ibeno as the proposed host location underscored the need to place the interests of the community at the centre of consultations and implementation arrangements.
According to him, although the project is still at its formative stage, the Forum expects the Ibeno Local Government Area, traditional institutions and other relevant stakeholders to be adequately involved in the consultation process before implementation.
He urged residents and community leaders to support the initiative, stressing that the naval base would enhance maritime security, protect fishing activities and improve safety along the coastal corridor.
The Forum’s spokesman also cautioned against statements and actions capable of frustrating the project, insisting that advocacy on the matter should promote constructive engagement rather than pre-empt ongoing or anticipated consultation processes.
Akpanika, however, emphasised that the community’s support for the proposed naval base was overwhelming, while stressing the need for government to comply with relevant environmental laws, conduct the necessary Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and undertake meaningful consultations with affected communities.
He reaffirmed the Forum’s commitment to the project, urging the state and federal governments to pursue its actualisation through due process, while balancing environmental sustainability with the security and development aspirations of the host community.
He maintained that a properly executed naval facility would strengthen maritime security, safeguard coastal livelihoods and promote sustainable development in Ibeno and the wider Niger Delta region.