Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has approved land for the Nigerian Navy in Ibeju Lekki, to install surveillance equipment to monitor activities on Nigerian territorial waters.

Ambode made the disclosure on Wednesday during a courtesy visit to the Lagos House, Alausa, ikeja, by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Ibok Ibas.

The governor said that the surveillance equipment would also monitor a little beyond the exclusive economic zones of the country.

Ambode said that the surveillance gadget would go a long way in putting a halt to criminal activities going on within the creeks around the state and generally on Nigerian waters.

He said that 20 per cent of the 735 square km of Lagos was covered by water.

Ambode expressed the need by the state government to partner with the Nigerian Navy to ensure security and welfare of the people especially relating to water.

The governor said the existence of such surveillance gadget would have improved the rescue operation of students of Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary School in Ikorodu, recently kidnapped but rescued by security agents.

“I like to assure you that you have our immediate consent and approval for the land in Ibeju-Lekki which is just 150 meters by 1 km for the installation of the Falcon Eye Equipment.

“The additional value for us is that we will be able to see what is happening on our waters and in the creeks.

“The Nigerian Navy has actually agreed to give us access to the equipment so that it can be linked up to our command and control centre.”

Earlier, Ibas, who was accompanied by senior officers of the Nigerian Navy, said he was at the Lagos House to thank Ambode for the massive cooperation which the Navy had enjoyed from his administration.

He told the governor that the Falcon Eye project was an initiative of the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA). (NAN)

•Photo shows Gov. Ambode.