The House of Representatives yesterday enjoined the authorities to deploy security personnel to coastal areas in Akwa Ibom state.
The decision followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Mr Uduak Odudoh at the plenary presided by Speaker Tajudeen Abass.
The House urged the security agencies to provide incentives to maritime security personnel in order to motivate and encourage them to uphold their agencies rule of engagement.
The House thereby mandated its Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration to ensure compliance.
The lawmaker argued that the deployment of security personnel would stop the ongoing economic sabotage orchestrated by the activities of pirates and armed robbers in the areas.
The lawmaker remarked that the activities of pirates and their involvements in organized crimes were threats to national security and economic activities.
He expressed the concern that due to incessant attacks by pirates, residents of the coastal areas in Akwa Ibom State were living in perpetual fear even as economic activities in the affected communities have been hampered and their sources of livelihood severely threatened.
He claimed that the fishermen in the affected areas were forced to pay royalties to pirates before they are allowed to engage in their activities on the waters, as failure to pay the levies puts them at risk of getting killed or having their boats, equipment and other valuables stolen or vandalized.
He explained that coastal Areas in Akwa Ibom State included Eastern Obolo, Mkpat Enin, Ikot Abasi, Ibeno, Mbo, Oron, Okobo, Udung Uko, Urue-Offong/Oruko Local Government Areas, with waterways of Ikot Abasi, Mkpat Enin and Eastern Obolo Local Government Areas among others, and were
interconnected with other communities in the Niger Delta including Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
