The Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Obi, has appealed to the Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Adm. Awwal Gambo, to build a naval station at the bank of the Qua river beside the university.
She said that this would curb the various cases of insecurity emanating from activities of hoodlums who use the river into the university.
Obi made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Calabar.
She said that most of the security challenges witnessed in the university were occasioned by the free movement of hoodlums through the river.
According to her, there have been cases of attempted kidnap of lecturers by suspected kidnappers who came in through the river into the lecturer’s quarters.
She said the building of the naval station by the Chief of the Naval Staff would drastically reduce the cases of security challenges currently faced by the university.
“The unfortunate events of the violence following the Endsars campaign had left the university security completely prostrate and unable to live up to its challenges in the community.
“On assumption of duty, the security personnel had to be re-trained, re-orientated and re-invigorated, coupled with having to supply them key equipment for operational efficiency.
“The strategic advice and cooperation of Service Chiefs in the state have boosted our strength and confidence in dealing with security challenges on campus.
“The building of a naval station by the bank of the Qua rivers beside the university is yet to materialise long after approval. I want to appeal to the new CNS to look into it and come to our aid,” she said.
The VC said that the problem of criminals using the river as a route to carry out their nefarious activities has not abated.
She acknowledged the cooperation of traditional rulers of the host communities, saying it has fostered harmonious co-existence between the university and the communities.
“The engagements with these communities by my administration and preparedness to carry out our corporate social responsibility have further built confidence and strengthened our relations,” she added. (NAN)
