The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has commended Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, for constructing a modern office complex, residential accommodation, and donating over 120 hectares of land to support the establishment of a permanent Nigerian Air Force (NAF) base in the state.
Aneke described the governor’s gesture as a significant investment in the security, peace, and economic future of Abia State and the South-East region.
The Air Force Chief made the remarks on Thursday during a courtesy visit to Governor Otti at the Government House in Umuahia after attending the maiden South-East Security Summit hosted by the Abia State Government.
He praised Otti’s leadership, saying the transformation taking place across Abia State had changed the state’s image and reflected strategic governance.
According to Aneke, the infrastructure projects being executed by the administration, including road construction, healthcare improvements, and economic development initiatives, demonstrate the governor’s commitment to sustainable growth.
He noted that the provision of operational facilities and accommodation for the Nigerian Air Force would significantly enhance security operations in the state by reducing response time to threats such as kidnapping, banditry, and other criminal activities.
The Air Marshal also thanked the governor for donating more than 120 hectares of land for the permanent Air Force base, describing the move as unprecedented.
“In most cases, governors struggle to take our land. Here we have a governor giving us land. This is a historic gift we will never forget,” he said.
Aneke added that the facilities would improve the welfare of Air Force personnel by providing comfortable accommodation, enabling them to focus fully on their responsibilities.
He further described Governor Otti as a visionary leader with the foresight to invest in security, noting that such strategic decisions would have long-term benefits for the state.
Responding, Governor Otti reaffirmed that security remains the top priority of his administration, stressing that meaningful development cannot take place without a secure environment.
He thanked the Chief of the Air Staff for approving the establishment of the Air Force base in Abia and assured him of the state’s continued support.
“The least we can do is provide the enabling environment and the resources required for you to take off. This is just the beginning because we are interested in your welfare,” Otti said.
The governor also announced that the newly completed office complex and support infrastructure would be formally handed over to the Nigerian Air Force, while expressing appreciation for the planned deployment of Air Force personnel to the state.
The meeting was attended by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, and the Special Adviser on Security, Navy Commander MacDonald Uba (Rtd), alongside senior officers of the Nigerian Air Force.
