The Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has approved 100 hectares of land within the Abia Airport Project Site for the Nigerian Air Force to build its training base in Abia State.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, disclosed this in a recent statement obtained by The PUNCH.

According to the statement, the Nigerian Air Force had requested an expansion of the 50 hectares of land already earmarked for its training base at the Abia Airport Project Site.

“Governor Otti gave the approval on Tuesday, March 10, in his office while receiving a delegation from the Nigerian Air Force Ground Training Command, led by the Commander, Air Vice Marshal Adebayo Gabriel Kehinde,” the statement read in part.

Speaking during the visit, Otti thanked the Nigerian Air Force for the approval to establish a base in Abia State, particularly at the Abia Airport premises, which are currently under construction.

The governor assured that the Abia Airport runway would soon be ready, adding that it is a joint project between the Abia State Government and the Federal Government.

“The partnership is such that the Abia State Government is handling the runway, and the Federal Government is handling the Airport Terminal. We expect the runway to be ready very soon.

The Airport Terminal can come in as time goes on. I want to thank the Nigerian Air Force for the approval to set up a base in Abia and, of course, to further set up a training ground at the Abia Airport Project Site, which is being built at the moment. The first request that you made, which was going to be my own request to you and which I had mentioned to the Commander, was to set up a training centre here in Abia. That request has already been responded to by you, so I am happy. We have allocated at least 100 hectares of land in that place,” Otti assured.

Otti further assured that his administration would ensure that the contractor handling the renovation project of the Air Force office in the state delivers it before the end of April to enable the Chief of Air Staff to come and take delivery of the office.

He urged the Commander to continue to support his government to ensure that crime and criminality are eradicated in the state.

The governor assured the Commander that Abia State now issues Certificates of Occupancy within 30 days, unlike what was obtainable in the past.

Earlier, the Air Officer Commanding Ground Training Command, Air Vice Marshal Adebayo Gabriel Kehinde, noted that security in the east is impressively orderly, adding that Abia State is well ahead of other South-East states in this regard.

He praised the governor for his administration’s efforts to support the Air Force and ensure its establishment in Abia State.

“From the reports I get regularly, obviously, Abia is standing out. These things do not happen accidentally. It must be a proactive effort, especially with serious support for the military and other security organisations in the state. I saw the headquarters that is under renovation. I saw the accommodation for our airmen. I also saw that of the officers, the ones that are ready and the ongoing ones,” Kehinde stated.

He requested the governor to consider increasing the 50 hectares of land earlier allocated to the Nigerian Air Force to 100 or 150 hectares.

The Commander noted that the expansion would enable the establishment of a larger Air Force facility, including a proposed Special Forces Training Centre for jungle warfare operations.

He explained that the training centre would significantly enhance operational readiness and strengthen security not only in Abia State but also across the region.

He also appealed for the prompt processing of the Certificate of Occupancy for the land allocated to the Air Force to enable the military authorities to incorporate the proposed facility into their operational plans.