By Egufe Yafugborhi

WARRI—OUTGOING Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Delta, Commodore Musa Gemu, has said that the realisation of the Federal Government’s $16 billion Export Processing Zone, EPZ, will not materialise unless the issue of internally displaced persons in volatile Ugborodo, the host community, was amicably resolved.

Gemu, yesterday at the NNS Delta base in Warri, Delta State, during a farewell parade held in his honour as he handed over to Commodore Aliyu Sule, who succeeds him as Commander, said: “The ground breaking has been carried out to lay foundation for take-off of the EPZ project. However, unless the Ugborodo people address the issue of internally displaced persons, realization of this project is still a long journey.”

Gemu added that the NNS Delta destroyed over 3,500 illegal refinery camps and 230 wooden boats laden with suspected stolen crude oil, among top achievements of his 14 months tenure at the Warri Naval Command.

He expressed joy in the realization that no life was lost in the fight against illegal oil bunkering and pipeline vandalism on the waterways, attributing the feat to the collective efforts of men of the command and good spirited members of the public who provided useful information.

Commodore Sule who took over from Gemu told newsmen that he will build on the achievements of his predecessor by ensuring that the waterways were safe for economic activities.