Abasifreke Effiong |Uyo| : The member representing Mbo State constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Mr. Samuel Ufuo said there was relative peace in Mbo mangrove island following the federal government's deployment of a joint border patrol team to the area.
Ufuo while addressing journalists recently in Uyo said activities of militants in the waterways have abated.
"Some of my constituents who left the mangrove and island communities that were repeatedly invaded and terrorised by militants and the Cameroon gendarmes have returned to their homes. Most of them who were fishermen have returned to business because there is relative peace in the area".
"I can say that because of the joint border patrol team deployed to area by the federal government, the militants can no longer operate in the day. They now come ones in a while at night".
He said there was no case of invasion of Nigerian communities or harassment and molestation of Nigerians living in the area by Cameroon gendarmes as it were few months ago.
The lawmaker while applauding the prompt intervention of the federal government to check criminal activities in the area called on President Muhammadu Buhari to expedite actions on proper delineation and demarcation of the maritime boundaries between Nigeria and Cameroon.
"There is urgent need for the federal government to liaise with Cameroon to properly delineate our boundaries with Cameroon. This will bring enduring peace to the region and will protect Nigeria's minerals deposit found in the region".
Ufuo appealed to the federal government to engage stakeholders from the area in its fact-finding efforts on the purported annexation of 16 communities in MBO mangrove island by the republic of Cameroon to avoid a repeat of the mistake which cost Nigeria the forfeiture of bakassi peninsula to Cameroon.
The lawmaker commended stakeholders of the State who took interest in the reported attempt by Cameroon to annex communities of MBO, saying that their efforts contributed to the prompt response by the federal government.
On his contributions in the House of Assembly in the last one year, Samuel Ufuo said his greatest achievement has been his ability to attract the attention of the federal government to the volatile security situation in MBO which he believes prompted the formation and deployment of joint border patrol team by the government of Nigeria and Cameroon to the area.
He added that he was able to attract the attention of the National and State emergency management agencies to the plight of victims of fire disaster at Ibaka.
Ufuo who is the chairman House committee on Labour and Productivity is also the lead sponsor of the Hotel and Tourism Establishment and Licensing Bill currently before the House of Assembly.
He said within his first year in the House he has given a seed capital of N500,000 to a group of women in the area and trained youths on pipeline welding and fitting.
While promising to improve his contributions in law- making and empowerment in the second legislative year, Ufuo appealed to his constituents to have faith in the Udom Emmanuel's administration.
"The recession we are experiencing in the State today is a normal curve globally. I encourage my people to have faith in this administration", he added.
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