By Akpan David, Calabar
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has disclosed its preparation to reinforce its presence in the Bakassi Local Government Council of Cross River State especially at the border points with Republic of Cameroon.
This was disclosed when the officer in charge of the NIS Bakassi station, ASP Blessing Aigiremolen and her team called on the newly elected council chairman, Hon. Iyadim Amboni Iyadim to pledge readiness to collaborate on area of security.
The immigration team leader said that all entry and exit points in the Council are well manned to check illicit businesses or infiltration by undocumented persons.
She said they will collaborate with the council to boost security coverage and riding the area of illegal immigrants, pledging the Service’s preparedness to work with the newly elected chairman of the council to ensure success in the course of performing their respective duties through proper collaboration.
She emphasised that Bakassi being an international border town, there was need for the Council and Service to work in partnership to ensure safety of lives and border control.
Responding, the Chairman of Bakassi Local Government Council, Iyadim, assured the Service of his cooperation and support in the interest of the people of Bakassi because of the strategic location of the area.
Iyadim reiterated his preparedness to work with the military and paramilitary agencies stationed in the area to ensure security of lives and property of the people while checking the movement of illegal aliens.
In another development, Iyadim, has disclosed that the overall development of the ten wards of the council remains his priority in the next three years.
Addressing members of Ikang Joint Assembly led by its President, Chief Eyo Ndem Eyo Ita, Iyadim asserted that his vision for the local government as contained in his manifesto will soon be unveiled.
He urged all stakeholders and groups to close ranks and support him in ensuring that the planned development is taken to the people who are in dire need of it.
“I will within my tenure as Chairman of Bakassi bring all the people together irrespective of their political lineages or locations so that Bakassi Local Government can attain its pride of place amongst others.”
On issues bordering wards demarcation as raised by the Assembly, Iyadim assured them that necessary modalities will be applied for the amendment of Law no 7 of 2007 which created three additional wards in Bakassi Local Government Area to ensure it reflects the yearnings of the people.
He noted that land acquired in the area by either federal or state government should be demarcated and compensation paid to avoid encroachment and unnecessary bickering by the deprived communities.
Speaking earlier,the President of Ikang Joint Assembly, Chief Eyo Ndem Eyo Ita, called on Iyadim to back the cohesion that used to characterize the existence of the people of Bakassi as it will be credited to the success of his administration if the people return united , indivisible and speak with one voice at all times.
“We call on you to ensure that in the next election, you will use your office to ensure that majority of residents that constitute the new Bakassi are given opportunity to vote unlike the previous local government election.” “We also enjoin you to call for harmonisation of voters register to forestall future occurrence.
Ita called for the implementation of an early MoU signed by the people on a 50/50 ratio sharing formula as agreed than the 7 to 3 in favour the riverine people.
They appealed to the Chairman to identify and monitor all abandoned or uncompleted projects initiated by Border Commission and other agencies in the area to ensure timely completion and put to use as well as muster spirited efforts to attract new ones.
