The Nigerian Navy has dredged and cleared 11km of waterway in the Lake Chad to deny Boko Haram/ ISWAP terrorists freedom of occupying the area and strangulating economic activities in the agrarian area.
The project, according to the Navy, is part of a broader effort to combat insurgency in the region, particularly against Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists, which have been vying for control of the lake’s islands and surrounding territories.
The dredging project aims to restore the region’s economic relevance, enhance navigation and trade, revitalise fishing activities, and improve security.
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State recently emphasised the strategic importance of addressing the challenges in Lake Chad to bring down insurgency and terrorism in Nigeria.
In his maiden operational visit to Maiduguri, the Chief of Naval Staff ( CNS ) Rear Admiral Idi Abbas, said the service has been conducting serious operations against terrorists in the Lake Chad Basin to restore normal economic activities in the region.
Rear Admiral Abbas said, “ The Nigerian Navy Base, Lake Chad (NBLC) has significantly improved access to critical waterways through targeted engineering interventions. In particular, the NBLC has successfully dredged and cleared approximately 11km of waterways, enhancing navigability and reopening previously inaccessible routes.
“These efforts have facilitated the safe return of fishermen, farmers, traders and transport operators, thereby supporting the gradual revival of socio-economic activities across the region.”
The naval chief said the Nigerian Navy remained fully committed to denying terrorists the use of the Lake Chad waterways through sustained coordinated operations in collaboration with the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).
He said the Navy had played a key role in clearing terrorist elements from waterways, particularly during Operation Lake Sanity III, which focused on degrading insurgent logistics and ensuring freedom of movement to consolidate the gains achieved by the joint task force.
“Additionally, the Navy ensures persistent Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) coverage in close coordination with the Nigerian Air Force.
“This joint ISR effort enhances situational awareness, enables timely targeting of terrorist activities and supports effective maritime interdiction operations, thereby sustaining pressure on terrorist elements within the Lake Chad Basin,” Abbas added.
He, however, urged the troops at Baga Naval Base to focus more on the fight against the enemies of the state in Lake Chad Basin, the terrorists.
The naval chief also assured the troops of his commitment to their welfare and the deployment of manpower and more equipment to support their efforts to restore lasting peace and security across the North East.
Source: LEADERSHIP.NG
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