Group raises alarm over planned naval base in Akwa Ibom forest

An environmental group, Peer Foundation, has opposed plans to build a naval base in the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve in Akwa Ibom State. They warned that this project could worsen environmental damage and increase problems with local communities.

In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Mfon Gabriel, on Monday, the group asked the Akwa Ibom and federal governments to cancel the decision and stop all industrial activities in the reserve.

The state government announced the proposed naval base as part of efforts to boost security along the coast and protect oil and gas facilities. Koko Essien, the state Commissioner for Internal Security and Waterways, shared the plan during a ministerial briefing in Uyo, according to media reports.

Peer Foundation argued that building a military base in the reserve without proper talks with affected communities could harm their livelihoods, access to ancestral lands, and environmental rights.

The group claimed that this proposal is part of a trend of using security structures to promote commercial activities in the forest, including oil-related projects. They also called for the cancellation of what they described as “destructive” refinery plans and the start of a community-led forest restoration program.

The argument against the naval base comes amid ongoing worries about the destruction of the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve. This forest covers parts of Eket, Esit Eket, Ibeno, and Mbo local government areas. In a November 2025 report, PREMIUM TIMES documented how road construction and the BUA refinery project led to a loss of forest cover and raised concerns about the reserve's future.

The report, titled “How refinery and highway project wiped out Akwa Ibom’s Stubbs Creek Forest,” also looked into whether the legal steps for removing protected forest land from reserve status were followed. Another PREMIUM TIMES report, published in 2026, studied the environmental risks from the proposed Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway route through the reserve.

This report mentioned a study estimating the climate damage from emissions linked to this highway could reach about N785 billion. This shows the potential cost of further harm to the forest. The reserve is a crucial habitat for wildlife and provides resources for communities that rely on it for their livelihood. Most importantly, the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve acts as a barrier between Akwa Ibom and the Atlantic Ocean.

Peer Foundation said the government did not get the free, prior, and informed consent of indigenous communities before announcing the naval base. They stated that any decisions about the forest should involve residents whose livelihoods, culture, and access to resources could be impacted.

The group also warned that putting a military base near oil facilities could lead to distrust and tensions between residents and security forces. They said that security operations might focus more on protecting corporate interests than the rights and welfare of host communities.

“National security cannot exist at the expense of ecological survival,” the organisation said. They described Stubbs Creek as a vital carbon sink and a natural barrier against coastal erosion, cautioning that clearing more forest for infrastructure might worsen environmental issues.

The forest also provides medicinal resources and supports local livelihoods linked to its natural resources. The planned naval base adds to the ongoing dispute over the management, ownership, and development of Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve.

The Akwa Ibom State Government has denied that the forest belongs solely to the Ekid people, stating that the reserve is managed by the state under the law. In a report published in January 2026, PREMIUM TIMES examined leaked government documents that seemed to support the Ekid people's claims to parts of the reserve.

The disagreement has also focused on whether the correct legal procedures were followed before changing the status of protected areas in the forest for development. Peer Foundation urged the state and federal governments to focus on ecological restoration, environmental responsibility, and community involvement instead of further industrial development in the reserve.

They said they would continue to oppose this project through legal and peaceful means. The Akwa Ibom State Government stated it aims to improve security along the coast and protect important infrastructure with the new naval base. However, they did not provide more details about the location or environmental protections for the proposed facility.