Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state has urged the Federal Government to develop the oil-rich Tongeji Island, which shares boundary with the Republic of Benin.
Amosun made the plea in Ipokia Local Government Area of the state during his project assessment and monitoring tour of the area.
He said that the island must not be allowed to go the way of Bakassi under any circumstance.
The governor, however, commended President Goodluck Jonathan, for showing concern on the issue, adding that already there was evidence of skeletal naval base on the island.
“The presence of the skeletal naval base on the Tongeji Island will not allow the Republic of Benin to take over the place the way Bakassi was taken over by Cameroon.
“I urge President Jonathan to fast track development on the island because it will stop the neighbouring country from claiming the land, and it will bring development to Ipokia and Nigeria as a whole.
“I know that if the Tongeji Island located in this council area is developed, besides generating revenue to the state government, it will create jobs for the unemployed.
“I want to tell you that President Jonathan has assured me of his administration’s commitment to the development of the island,” he said.
Amosun said he would give the people of the area more dividends of democracy, developed the Island to attract tourists and generate revenue for the state.
He said that his administration was planning to create Local Council Development Areas (LCDA) to enhance governmental presence in all nooks and crannies of the state.
Mr Isiaka Aderounmu, the Chairman of the council, said the local government needed the state’s quick and decisive intervention in respect of Ebola Virus Diseases.
He said this was because the council was very close to Benin Republic, thus making it vulnerable to the disease.
Aderounmu pleaded with the governor to equip the hospitals in the area with protective gadgets and consumables against Ebola.
“We urgently need the government’s quick intervention in respect of Ebola Virus Disease in view of our peculiar proximity to neighbouring Benin Republic which makes our people quite vulnerable to the Virus,” Aderounmu said.
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