Navy Hospital: Why We Want To Partner Navy - Imoke
CALABAR, July 05, (THEWILL) - Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State has explained that the idea behind the State’s decision to partner the Nigerian Navy to complete its abandoned hospital project in Calabar was borne out of its desire to render high quality health service having realized that the hospital which was designed as a first class hospital has been abandoned for 32 years with no budgetary allocation.
Senator Imoke was speaking while receiving the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim in his office in Calabar.
He noted that the complex is still in a solid state because its original concept was handled professionally by a reputable firm and that the hospital is seen as a community hospital because of the age long cordial relationship between the civilians and the navy, explaining that the partnership was intended to turn the hospital into a specialist centre and hoped they will complete it and make it work.
Imoke, who remarked that the navy is part of Cross River State, said the State Government had kicked against the idea of relocating the Eastern Naval Headquarters from Calabar, adding that the navy is made of distinguished persons who can hold their own anywhere in the world and the State is duty bound to cooperate and assist it.
He said the State is familiar with some of the challenges encountered by them following the ceding of Bakassi to Cameroun while its consequences still remain with the state which has called the attention of United Nations recently, noting that a clause in the Green Tree Agreement created a buffer zone which has not been adhered to but giving way to the emergence of pirate which has affected security and economic life.
The Governor noted that the visit will go a long way to establish security in the water ways as well as enhance the existing cordial relationship between the civilians and navy to promote trade and commerce, adding that despite the Bakassi quagmire, there is need to maintain peace.
Chief of Naval of Staff, Vice Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim, said the navy had received directives from the Presidency on security and that they will ensure their activities in Nigeria’s territorial waters fall within the directive, adding that the navy is capable of protecting the image of the country.
Ibrahim commended the state for the gun boat which it donated to the navy to police the water ways as well as acknowledged its desire to partner the navy to complete the constructions of its hospital, a situation which he said is a welcome idea but being handled by the Ministry of Defence while lauding the State’s tourism programme which is widely acclaimed.