Governor Otti Receives Chief Of Air Staff as Nigeria Air Force Moves To Set Up Base in Abia

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has welcomed the decision by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to set up an operational base in the State, promising to give the Force all the support it needs to take off.

Governor Otti said the move by the Air Force to establish a base in Abia couldn't have come at a better time than now that the Federal Government had put machinery in motion to build an airstrip in the State.

The Governor said the presence of the Air Force in Abia has become even more necessary at this time, following attempt by some yet-to-be-identified gunmen to scuttle the peace that Abians have been enjoying in the last one year, with the killing of five soldiers at an army post in Obikabia, Obingwa Local Government Area of the State.

Governor Otti spoke on Friday when he received the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, who visited him in his country home in Umuehim, Nvosi, Isialangwa South Local Government Area.

"We want to particularly thank you for this very great approval that you have given to set up your presence in Abia State. It couldn't have come at a better time. The Federal Government just approved that an airstrip be located in Abia and the authorities including the Ministry of Aviation, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, NAMA, and the rest of them, have been here. We had a very good engagement.

"We have already given them a site for the airport, which is a very large place. We are also committed to partnering with them to expand it from an airstrip to an airport.

"This is a great time for Abia, it’s a great time for you to be here since we have an airport coming. Luckily, it is a very large parcel of land and by that airport we are going to give you land to site your operations," an appreciative Governor Otti told the Air Force Chief, while thanking him for the visit.

To further demonstrate his determination to have the Air Force hit the Abia skyline as well as put boots on the ground, Governor Otti offered a temporary take off location for the air wing of the Nigerian armed forces in Umuahia, capital of Abia, pending the construction of the permanent site.

According to him, this arrangement would help both the State and the Nigerian Air Force to quickly realise the good gesture that the air Chief had extended to Abia.

"So, we will give you a temporary site in Umuhia. We will also provide residences for your men and also provide vehicles for them to move around and any other thing that they require. I believe that we can achieve this in the next one to two months," Governor Otti said, adding that the presence of the Nigerian Air Force in Abia "will be very useful to also support the activities of other security agencies that are working closely with us".

Governor Otti told Air Marshal Abubakar that the citizens of Abia had enjoyed relative peace until last Thursday, May 30, when some dare devil criminals ambushed the army post in Obikabia and slaughtered the five soldiers on duty in cold blood.

"Interestingly, the government has placed a bounty of 25 million Naira, and just yesterday, an Abia son, who also comes from Obingwa and lives in the United States of America, sent us five million Naira to upgrade the bounty to 30 million Naira.

"So, I’m happy to announce that the bounty has been just upgraded to 30 million Naira to encourage anyone that has useful information that would lead to the apprehension of the criminals who came here to terrorise us," the Governor said, describing the tragedy as "very unfortunate isolated incident".

He reiterated the commitment of the Abia State Government to work with the various security agencies to ensure that the ugly incident of May 30 did not happen again.

"We are very, very single-minded about it. We must fish them out and ensure that they will get the message that this place is a no-go area for terrorists, for killers, for kidnappers and criminals.

"So, once again, I will like to say thank you very much for this visit. As you nominate one of your men that will work with us, the SA Security is hereby empowered to work with your men to ensure that everything that you require to hit the ground running, immediately, is provided, while we begin the process of the construction of the permanent site," Governor Otti declared.

Earlier, Air Marshal Abubakar said that the essence of his visit was to engage in meaningful dialogue with the Governor and explore opportunities for collaboration between the Nigerian Air Force 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 to enhance security not only in Abia but the entire South East Zone of the country.

He applauded Governor Otti for his dedication to governance and commitment to the development of the State as well as his leadership style, "which is people oriented and centered to judicious management of public resources in order to improve the living standards of Abians".

AVM Abubakar 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 Air Force would partner other security agencies to bolster security in the State.

KAZIE UKO
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
Abia State
Government House, Umuahia
June 7, 2024.

Continue doing good works Otti. Igbos are fully with you as long as you remain clean ❣️

Good one

Yarimo food is done

. That's the way to go. If ESN won't secure the forest against foreign invader in Igbo land and decided to enforce the unproductive sit at home then their services are no longer needed.

They simply are constituting nuisance and trying to create a problem they can't withstand in Igbo land.

Travelling from Port Harcourt to Aba is a terrible experience as soldiers are alighting commuters from their vehicles right from Imo River, with your hands raised up while you trek a distance before boarding your vehicle.

This is the case in other military checkpoints.

Seunpapa65:
Yarimo food is done

Yarimo dey serve nairaland jail term...tag helinues, his alternate account

Why is this state so popular in Nigeria





Igbo people and hyping

Paving the way for the great airport project

Nice one... Admin front page abeg

Otti knows his onions.. he's a wise man to say the least and has vision for his state and neighboring states..

Ipob go hear word by force

Since Abia people like to kill military officers, them go kill taya.

Congratulations on the new aquarium in Lagos oooo my friend and happy birthday to him in arrears and happy 😁 the money to get for the next week Thursday night 🌉🌉

I really wish baba vibrator would adopt Obasanjo style and adopt the best performing governor to be the next president after his tenure. I am sure all this state governors will struggle to outperform each other

Otti is a badass good guy Welcomed development

Meanwhile, if you’re into any business, either online or offline and you’re looking out for;
1) An easier way to get intentional leads (customers)
2) How to sell to your prospective customers easily,

If you’re also a 9 to 5 staff that is contemplating on an easier route to make a good side income,

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Good morning family and happy birthday to you my friend dey with many of the church spoilt it is well IJN to you and my wife sir our family and friends and I don't want

Okay

This man and land grabbing e don enter Abia abi

very GOOD

NapoleonHill:
Since Abia people like to kill military officers, them go kill taya.

So terrible

Wonderful idea from the airforce.

I hope the lands that will be used will have their owners well compensated.

Meanwhile here are the top 10 largest companies in Nigeria


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPGtX3SV9bI

Great

Give 🔥 🔥 🔥 to all those IPOB .

Of what need is this

Atarakpa:
Ipob go hear word by force

What of fulani herdsmen kidnapping people and killing 3 Obas in the south west?

Abia is on course to have long lasting peace..
NAF base in Abia State will put an end to sit-at-home and incessant attacks on Nigerian citizens going about their legitimate businesses in the State.

ESN/UGM should leave Abia state and go back to Orlu their main base were they are highly welcomed.

Naijaguy123:
Give 🔥 🔥 🔥 to all those IPOB .

Are you guys happy for otti or what cos you are now confusing me

Seunpapa65:


KAZIE UKO
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
Abia State
Government House, Umuahia
June 7, 2024.

Despite their multiple bases in Kaduna, what is the security situation?
The governor should empower local security personnel

flokii:
Abia is on course to have long lasting peace..
NAF base in Abia State will put an end to sit-at-home and incessant attacks on Nigerian citizens going about their legitimate businesses in the State.

There are other barracks and military cantonments in other SE States with no effect on the sit at home.