Bakassi council intervenes in beach ownership crisis

The incessant tussles over ownership of Tony Beach in Ikang area of Bakassi LGC of Cross River State may soon be over  following the intervention of the council.  The Bakassi Local Government Council has taken over the management of the beach with immediate effect.  There have been regular clashes among some individuals in the area […]

The incessant tussles over ownership of Tony Beach in Ikang area of Bakassi LGC of Cross River State may soon be over  following the intervention of the council. 

The Bakassi Local Government Council has taken over the management of the beach with immediate effect. 

There have been regular clashes among some individuals in the area over its ownership. 

The clashes reportedly emanated from ‘who should collect tolls and other rates from agricultural produce transported through the beach.’ 

Findings also showed that there were also the squabbles over how collections from boat operators should be channelled. 

The clashes often left many people injured, driving fears into residents and threatening maritime business and seafaring. 

The decision to take over the beach was taken at the council’s security meeting yesterday. 

The meeting was presided over by the chairman of the LGC, Chief Iyadim Amboni Iyadim, and attended by all the military and paramilitary heads assigned to the area.   

According to officials of the council, the meeting was aimed at averting further threats to lives and property in the area. 

The council has set up a three-man interim management committee to manage the beach for 90 days pending the outcome of an investigation by the council’s peace and security committee to  determine its actual owner.  

The interim management committee has Chief Okon Bassey as its Chairman while Mr Bassey Nathaniel and the Special Adviser- Peace and Security, Mr Efffiong Etim Okon, will serve as members.

Iyadim later led the security council members to the beach, urging operators there to cooperate with the interim committee. 

He said  the results of the white paper will determine the actual  owner of the beach. 

He called on the chairman of the committee to ensure revenue is collected from the agricultural produce that comes in through the beach. 

He also called for a cordial relationship between the committee and the beach operators to ensure smooth business in the area devoid of clash of interest.