Chief of Naval Staff (CoNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas
Chief of Naval Staff (CoNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas has said that the Lake Chad and its adjourning waterways are to be secured by the military for fishing, transportation and other socio-economic activities in the Northeast.
According to him, in securing the Lake and insurgency-affected communities, synergy of the military and other security agencies is paramount.to end the war.
Abbas made the commitments and declarations on Thursday in Maiduguri during a working visit to Naval formations in the Lake Chad Basin, including the ones at Baga and the shores of Lake.
Briefing newsmen on his visit at the Theatre Command of Maimalari Containment, the CoNS disclosed: “Our joint military action with security agencies and the Civilian JTF in the Lake Chad and its shores will enable fishermen and farmers resume their economic activities by securing the Lake and dozens of waterways that serve many communities in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states
Beyond the securing of Lake, Abbas added: “”We are in Maiduguri to assess the operational requirements of troops in the Lake Chad region comprising Chad, Cameroon, Nigeria and Niger Republic,” he said.
Besides securing the Lake Chad against terrorism, the Vice Admiral further revealed: “The military joint action with other security agencies was to deny the Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists from action in the Lake and waterways serving the communities affected in the over a decade insurgency.
Meanwhile, Abbas before proceeding to the Baga Naval base in Borno state, inspected the ongoing construction of the Maiduguri Naval Base (MNAB), 10km east, and along Monguno road.
After returning from Baga, Abbas with senior military officers from the theatre command, paid a courtesy visit to Governor Babagana Zulum at the Government House, Maiduguri.
