Abiodun Rules out Claim by Benin Republic to the Tongeji Island
Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has ruled out any claim by Benin Republic to the Tongeji Island in the Ogun West.
According to the governor, the oil rich island is in Ogun state, adding that Benin Republic could not lay claim to the island.
The governor stated this, while receiving the flag officer commanding western naval command, Rear Admiral Mustapha Hassan at the governor office, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta.
Abiodun recalled raising the issue with Benin Republic President twice, when they met, and he confirmed categorically that his country has no interest in Tongeji Island.
The naval chief told the governor that the island requires facilities such as power, hospitals and pipe borne water supply to give residents a sense of belonging.
Admiral Hassan also asked Ogun state to work towards exploiting the crude oil deposit in the island, to become an oil producing state.
The governor said officials of the state works ministry would visit the island to determine the cost of building a jetty.
He also said power, potable water, hospital would also be provided as well as an administrative building for the navy personnel on the island.
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A lot is going to happen along that corridor that requires heavy Navy presence.
The Federal Government is reactivating a multi-billion dollar initiative which is going to be a big responsibility on the part of the Navy because it is going to sit on the territorial waters around Ogun Waterside,” the governor added.
He said his administration is working assiduously towards making the State an oil-producing State, just as he assured the Nigerian Navy that a committee would be set up to work with the force in identifying other areas of partnership
Speaking earlier, Hassan, who is the 44th FOC of the command, lauded the state for its conducive business environment which has made it the industrial hub of the nation and emphasised the need for the state to work towards becoming an oil-producing state through the Tongeji Island.
He said the force had spread its operations to Tongeji to safeguard not only the lives of Nigerians living on the Island but to protect the territorial integrity of Nigeria and all its assets, appealing to the governor to provide jetties for seamless operations there.
The FOC also pleaded with the state government to provide the inhabitants of the island with a health facility, water supply and electricity to give them a sense of belonging, suggesting that the government could turn the Island into a tourism centre because of its potential.
