48-year-old abandoned Umuagbai police station gets lifeline
Respite has come the way of the abandoned 48-year-old Umuagbai Police Station in Rivers State as the state government promised to rehabilitate the dilapidated structures.
The promise came through the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Tammy Danagogo, who visited the station on Tuesday.
Umuagbai is a far flung rural community in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State. The agrarian community, which shares boundaries with Akwa Ibom State, also serves as a gateway to the old eastern states.
Since the police station was constructed in 1971, it has not seen any renovation by the police high command, leading to many of its structures given way.
Niger Delta Trust reports that walls of abandoned police station, which is the only one in the whole of the community, have caved in and parts of the buildings overtaken by weeds just as rodents and reptiles found easy accommodation in the massive and expansive structures.
During the visit, Dr Danagogo reiterated the state government’s commitment to policies and programmes that will promote security of lives and property in the state.
He said Governor Nyesom Wikeled administration was determined to rebuild the police station and all its facilities, adding that provision of security to the citizens remained paramount to the governor.
“There is no doubt that our federal institutions in the country, particularly in this state, are in dire need of attention. Our governor will continue to work to ensure that no institution relevant to the needs of our people is neglected,” he added.
Some residents of the community have expressed joy over the decision of the state government to rebuild the abandoned police station.
A resident of the community, Jacob Okere, said that the renovation of the facilities would enhance security in the area.
“This police station was constructed in 1971 during the Diete Spiff-led military administration. Forty-eight years after it was constructed and put into use, the police high command has not deemed it fit to rebuild the station. If you look at the structure, you will find out that it’s inhabitable and the policemen here still manage it the way it is. No human being can provide quality service from a dilapidated structure like this. I want to commend Rivers State government for this move and pray that renovation of the structures should commence immediately,” he said.
Another resident of the area, Paul Ekeke, blamed the Nigeria Police Force for abandoning the station.
“Control of the police and other security apparatus is in the exclusive list of the Nigeria’s constitution where federal government controls the security apparatus. The federal government has not found it necessary to maintain its facilities. It’s a shame that a federal government facility is in a very bad shape like this and nobody is doing anything about it. I thank the governor for remembering the station,” he said.
Efforts made by our reporter to speak with Rivers State police command public relations officer, Nnamdi Omoni, on why the station was not renovated for so long proved abortive as he was not available for comment as at the time of filing this report.