With the peculiar topography of Cross River State, “we need more security personnel,” the Cross River State Governor, Sen Bassey Edet Otu, said as he received Course 32 participants from the National Defence College in Calabar, South South Nigeria.
Gov. Otu said he believes we need a strengthened security architecture in order to weed out any form of crime and criminality in the state.
“From the creeks of Bakassi to the hills of Obanliku, in the northern Senatorial District, “Strengthening National Unity for Security and Development in Nigeria: An Appraisal of Efforts of Cross River State,” he stated.
While receiving the team on the study tour, Sen Otu said: “These are men who put their lives in harm’s way to defend the territorial integrity of the country, and maintaining peace and stability of the nation.”
“Over the years, Cross River has been using its rich cultural heritage in fostering national unity and peaceful coexistence,” Otu noted.
The team was led by Commodore Mohammed Adamu Muye, Director, Department of Curriculum and Programme Development of the College.
Muye said participants at the end of the tour would present their findings, highlighting the peculiarities of Cross River based on firsthand information.
The team leader continued his speech with an upbeat note, saying “the College, presently designated as the ECOWAS Training Centre of Excellence for Peace and Conflict Studies.”
He added: “since inception in 1992, the college has trained 2, 758 participants, Course 32 comprises 109 trainees, including 19 international participants from Brazil, India, Bangladesh, amongst others.
“The team will cover Taraba, Ebonyi, Adamawa, Kano and Kwara States as part of the national study tour aimed at generating viable ideas towards strengthening national unity and cohesion,” he explained.
He said the aim of their tour was to acquaint participants with the socio-political environment of Nigeria.