Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State believes a new Nigerian Navy base will transform security along the state's waterways through enhanced surveillance and criminal deterrence. He made the remarks on Monday while meeting a delegation from Naval Headquarters, headed by Rear Admiral Jonathan Joseph Nwunuji Mamman, at the TY Danjuma House in Jalingo.
Kefas praised the Chief of the Naval Staff for making national security a priority and commended the Navy's push to expand operations in Taraba. He revealed that the Navy had already surveyed the proposed site, calling the planned facility an essential move to protect local waterways.
The governor noted that the Kashimbila Waterway marks Taraba's boundary with Cameroon, while other inland waterways remain exposed to criminal activity without proper security. A permanent naval presence would stop criminals and boost security across these vulnerable areas, he said.
Training opportunities for local residents to work alongside the Marine Police represent another benefit of the base, Kefas added. He stressed that security agencies must work more closely together to tackle the state's security problems.
Rear Admiral Mamman said the delegation travelled to Taraba to assess the Kashimbila Waterway ahead of the naval base's creation. The waterway holds strategic importance because it houses the Kashimbila Hydroelectric Power Project, serves communities near the airport and forms part of Nigeria's boundary with Cameroon, he explained.
Unprotected waterways create serious security threats and endanger key national infrastructure, the Rear Admiral warned. The proposed base would secure the area while protecting critical facilities, he added.
