The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has said the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) will soon establish a permanent presence (Base) in Abia State.
Air Marshal Abubakar disclosed this during a meeting with Governor Alex Otti of Abia State at his country home at Mvosi, in Isiala Ngwa South local government area of Abia State .
In a statement by the NAF director of public relations and information Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, Air Marshal Abubakar, said NAF’s presence in Abia State would not only bolster security of the airspace but also provide invaluable support in emergency response, disaster management and community development initiatives.
The air chief expressed NAF’s willingness to take advantage of the opportunity to further extend its reach in the employment of air power in response to national security imperatives, especially in Abia State and the South East region.
Air Marshal Abubakar while expressing sadness over the recent attack on soldiers at Obikabia Junction of Obingwa local government area however, assured that those behind the dastardly act would soon be brought to justice.
Responding, Governor Otti stated that the establishment of a NAF Base in Abia State could not have been more timely as the federal government recently approved the construction of an air strip in the state.
He said the large expanse of land earmarked for the airstrip is large enough to accommodate a NAF Base, which his government would gladly allocate to the NAF.
