The Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey has expressed joy at the hope of collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Interior and the State Government as this promises to bring benefits to border communities. Rt.Hon Peter Odey who shared his thoughts with a team from the Ministry of Interior which called on him on Monday, 11th December, 2023 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.
The Team Lead 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 hinted 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.
