By: Vitalis Ugoh, Calabar
The Deputy governor of Cross River State, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey has expressed joy that the state government would collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Interior to bring benefits to border communities.
Odey who shared his thoughts with a team from the Ministry of Interior which called on him recently, expressed sadness at the recent abduction and eventual death of a traditional ruler in Belegete, one of the mountain communities in Obanliku by some Cameroonians.
He pointed out that one major challenge faced by the state has been the large influx of refugees who come in their drones.
According to him, “Cross River State has four international borders and currently hosts 52,000 Camerounian refugees, the highest in Nigeria.
Hon. Odey regretted that some of the clashes in border communities were the result of identity and called on the Federal Government to ensure that Renewed Hope is felt by all Nigerians including those in border communities so that Nigerians who are in such communities will know that they are recognized by their own country.
The team leader of the Integrated Border Governance and Inter-Ministerial Committee set up by the Federal Ministry of Interior, Mrs. Comfort Kabirwa, who spoke earlier, explained the purpose of their visit to include identifying the problems on site in order to proffer solutions.
Kabirwa said that their strategy for tackling the problems in border communities will include the use of technology and trending best practices because the ministry was ready to move with the rest of the world in its modus of handling problems while promising that the Honourable Minister of Interior hopes that there will be more visible government presence in border communities.
She said the communities remained at the receiving end of these challenges hence the need for an inter-ministerial committee.
Comptroller S. A. Agba, said the visit will provide information that could lead to the establishment of outposts for various security agencies to regulate migration and immigration which will curtail the influx of foreigners and eliminate the infiltration of amazonian fighters.
Other members of the team included representatives from the the Federal Ministry of Interior, Nigerian Immigration Service, Nigerian Civil Defence and Security Corps, amongst others.
