Air Force Base for Abia soon, as Otti promise land for project
By Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
Abia State would soon get an Air force base following the approval by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Hasan Abubakar, for the establishment of the facility in the state.
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, made this known when he received in audience, the Chief of Air staff and his delegation who paid him an official visit, promising that the state government would provide land for the project.
Governor Otti said that in the interim, a temporary site in Umuahia would be provided while operational vehicles, official residence and other logistics required for the take-off would equally be provided by the state government.
The Governor expressed optimism that establishment of an Airforce base would be realized in the state to further enhance security of lives and property of citizens.
“I will instruct the Commissioner for Lands and Housing to engage with anyone that you will nominate to work with us so that we can realise this in the shortest time possible.
“While we do that, we are also in a position to give you a temporary site so you do not wait for the construction of the permanent site before we realise this good gesture that you have made here.
“We will give you a temporary site in Umuahia and we will also provide residences for your men and also provide vehicles for them to move around and any other thing that they require and so I believe that we can achieve this in the next one to two months,” Otti assured.
Governor Otti who attributed the relative peace in the state to efforts of security agencies, emphasized that security was among the top priority of his administration, adding that government would support them to perform optimally.
While noting that the visit came at the right time, especially with the federal government’s approval for the setting up of an Airstrip in the state, the Governor said his administration was committed to partnering the FG to expand the airstrip to an airport.
The Governor disclosed that his government was not resting on it’s oars to apprehended the killers of the five soldiers at Obikabia, and announced that the bounty has been upgraded to N30 million.
He urged citizens and residents who have useful information to volunteer so as to enable security agencies to apprehend the criminals.
Earlier the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, had said that the essence of his visit was to engage in meaningful dialogue with the Governor and explore opportunities for collaboration between Nigerian Airforce and Abia State.
Abubakar requested the state government to provide them a parcel of land for the establishment of an Air Force Base in Abia State to enhance security, not only in Abia, but the entire South East Zone.
Abubakar applauded Governor Otti for his dedication to public service and commitment to the development of the State as well as his governance style, “which is people-oriented and centered to judicious management of public resources in order to improve the living standards of Abians”.
He used the opportunity to commiserate with the state government on the unfortunate incident which led to the loss of five soldiers at Obikabia, assuring that the Nigerian Airforce would partner other security agencies in the state to bolster security.
