The senator representing Bayelsa East Senatorial District and Chairman, Senate Committee on Host Communities Producing Oil and Gas (HostComm), Benson Agadaga, Tuesday presented eight engine boats to the Bayelsa state branch of the HostComm taskforce.
Making the presentation, the senator represented by his chief legislative aide, Dr Austin Dressman, said the rational behind the inauguration of the boats was to contribute to the security of oil and gas facilities.
He lauded the conventional security agencies for doing their bits in providing professional security on oil and gas installations, saying the presentation of the boats to the taskforce would enhance their functions and collaboration with other security agencies in securing oil and gas infrastructure across the riverine communities of the state.
“The reason for providing these boats for the Hostcomm taskforce is to enable them secure oil and gas infrastructure in the state, especially in the far flung riverine communities in partnership with the conventional security agencies of Government.
“ I want to appreciate the JTF, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), the Navy, Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), the army and police, and indeed all other security agencies for their onerous task of securing our oil and gas infrastructure as well as their partnership with the Hostcomm taskforce”, the Senator said.
In his speech, the royal father of the event and Chairman, Bayelsa State traditional rulers council, King Bubaraye Dakolo, commended the federal lawmaker for the gesture, nothing that security is everybody’s concern.
He, however, called on the Federal Government to provide adequate funding for security agencies, saying that the national government has often neglected the Niger Delta region where the bulk of the nation’s economic mainstay comes from.
Speaking on behalf of the conventional security agencies, the Chief of Staff to the Commander, Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), Brig-Gen. Yusuf Umar restated the commitment of government owned security agencies towards a continued collaboration with the non-conventional security outfits for the security of oil and gas infrastructure.
Also speaking, the Special Assistant to Senator Agadaga on HostComm, High Chief Victor Igbaba promised the willingness of the Hostcomm taskforce to collaborate with both the conventional and other security outfits in ensuring that oil and gas infrastructure were safe and protected across host communities of the state and the Niger Delta region.
He called on HostComm to harness the various opportunities provided by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) for their development.
Ariwera lbibo-Howells, Yenagoa
