NAF To Take Over Akwa Ibom Airstrip For Aerial Surveillance

Nigeria Air Force (NAF) has expressed concern over the state of insecurity in the country and pledged its readiness to tackle the menace of insurgency, oil theft and other maritime crimes in the coastal Akwa Ibom areas and the Gulf of Guinea region.

Soliciting the cooperation of the Akwa Ibom government during a courtesy call on Governor Umo Eno at Government House, Uyo, the leader of the delegation, Air Commodore A. H. Idris, said the visit became necessary in order to enlist the governor’s support for the takeover of the Air Strip in Eket local government area as an operational base.

He noted that the base, when established, would serve as a Forward Operating Base “to extend air power for national security, protection of territorial integrity, critical oil assets as well as support the drive to promote a thriving blue economy.”

Responding, Governor Eno assured the NAF of his administration’s readiness to give the necessary support to enable it establish an operational base in the state.

He stressed that the state was committed to ensuring peace and security, adding that the presence of the Air Force would complement the overall security architecture of the state.

He noted that the state had enjoyed the presence of the Army and the Navy, but only has a skeletal presence of the NAF, and appreciated the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, for choosing to have a base in the state.