Kazeem Owoseni
In its commitment to national security, by safeguarding the lives and properties of the Nigerian populace, The Nigerian Air Force has On Thursday, April 6, 2022, recorded another giant stride by commissioning its new base in Igbemo, Ekiti state.
The NAF on Thursday, held the groundbreaking ceremony of its new base in Igbemo, very close to the agro-allied airport in the southwest state.
In his speech during the commissioning ceremony, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, thanked the governor of Ekiti state, Abiodun Oyebanji, for his commitment to the project, which sits on 1,257 hectares of land.
“It is pertinent to mention that the event we are witnessing today is part of a process that commenced on February 11, 2022, when the immediate past governor of Ekiti state, Dr . Kayode Fayemi paid a courtesy visit to NAF Headquarters to solicit support for the Ekiti Agro-allied airport project.
“We are therefore encouraged by the promise of His Excellency, Dr . Abiodun Abayomi Oyebanji to assist the Nigerian Air Force in developing some of the infrastructure of the new base.
“This will facilitate the speedy deployment of our personnel to the base. Air Marshal Amao added that part of the NAF strategy for meeting the increasing demands of new security challenges is establishing new Bases at strategic locations,” he said.
He added that: “The new Nigerian Air Force Base Ekiti will provide operational services to NAF platforms operating in the southwest geopolitical zone of the country.”
The NAF boss commended the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), for approving the acquisition of more platforms for the Nigerian Air Force.
He revealed that: “A few of these platforms were delivered to the Nigerian Air Force in December 2022, while others are to be delivered in the coming months with additional new Bases and additiohangarsngar will be required for the seamless operations of some of the platforms in line with the principles of air dispersal and optimization.”
The NAF chief also stated that some aircraft had been earmarked for the new base.
In his reaction to the new Air Force facilities in Ekiti State, Governor Oyebanjo stated that the initiative is a result of the several efforts of his predecessor, Dr . Kayode Fayem, I and the support of the immediate past CAS Air Marshal Saddique Abubakar (rtd).
He said: “The discussion for the operational base started in 2020 when the former CAS paid a courtesy visit to the state, to inspect the location for the proposed Ekiti Cargo airport.
“When I assumed office, one of my first journeys to Abuja was to the office of the CAS to urge him to hasten the process of establishing their Operational Base in the Ekiti Airport as promised.
“It delights me greatly that today’s event is in fulfillment of our strategic vision of expanding security architecture and air military presence in our dear state.”
Governor Abiodun expressed joy that a military base in the state will further strengthen the state’s security needs.
He, therefore pledge the support of his administration to the new base, noting that his government will provide some logistics support during the takeoff phase of the infrastructural development of the base.
