By Akpan David, Calabar
Immediate past Senator for Cross River southern senatorial district in the National Assembly, Gershom Bassey commended the proposed State Police Bill.
The Bill is presently before the National Assembly for more fine-tuning.
Speaking in an interview with journalists in Calabar, Baseey said the country’s worsening security situation has justified the establishment of state police.
He said it will complement the Nigeria Police Force, but stressed that adequate safeguards must be put in place to prevent abuse by state governors.
Bassey who is now a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), spoke about the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, describing it as a transformative project capable of unlocking massive economic opportunities for Cross River State if completed.
He urged residents and other stakeholders to support the project, saying it would significantly boost commerce, tourism and investment across the state.
According to him, the proposed public-private partnership (PPP) model for managing the highway would boost it, noting that it would also guarantee the project’s sustainability and efficient maintenance after completion.
On President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, the former lawmaker acknowledged that the policies had imposed hardship on Nigerians but argued that the challenge lay more in the approach adopted for their implementation.
Bassey renewed his call for true federalism and greater devolution of powers in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, insisting that constitutional restructuring through state creation remained a cumbersome process.
Assessing Governor Bassey Otu’s administration, the former senator said the government had made appreciable progress in tackling insecurity, particularly kidnapping, while urging it to intensify efforts in other sectors to ease the economic burden on residents.
He also commended the Cross River State Government’s push for the allocation of about 300 oil wells to the state, expressing optimism that the development, if realised, would significantly improve the state’s economy.
Bassey further urged Nigerians to remain patriotic and contribute positively towards building a stronger and more prosperous nation.
