The Nigeria Air Force (NAF) on Friday reiterated its plans to collaborate with the Ekiti State Government in promoting and actualising the state cargo airport project.
AVM Remigus Ekeh, Airforce Chief of Policy and Plans, made the commitment when he led a team from the office of the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Oladayo Amao, to Gov. Kayode Fayemi in his office in Ado-Ekiti on Friday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the team had earlier embarked on an on-the-spot inspection of the cargo airport project.
Ekeh disclosed that the visit is a follow up to Gov. Fayemi’s initiative which he discussed with the former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, last year.
He expressed delight seeing that the initiative had experienced tremendous progress within the last one year that it was conceived.
Ekeh restated the commitment of the Air Force in ensuring that the country is peaceful and prosperous.
He commended Gov. Fayemi for releasing a parcel of land at the airport for the establishment of a base to strengthen NAF’s efforts at tackling the present security challenges in the country.
“We thank you for fulfilling your promise of giving us a portion of land at the international cargo airport for the air force to set up a base.
“We are very grateful and we will continue to ask for your corporation especially at this time when the nation is facing great security challenges”, AVM Ekeh said.
Responding, Gov. Fayemi, noted that the presence of the Air Force Base at the cargo airport would strengthen security architecture and efforts at restoring sanity and security in the country.
He also presented the aerial survey document of the allotted portion to the team.
The Governor explained that the former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Abubakar, had promised that the space would be used as part of the central command of operation in the country.
“This is considering the strategic location of Ekiti to States in the central area, including Kogi, Kwara, Niger and the FCT, and its straddling with other states in the West,” he said.
Fayemi, while urging the NAF to accelerate the actualization of the initiative, said the state government is set to present the Certificate of Occupancy of the plot to NAF and work with them in implementing their plans for the space.
He added that the main contractor handling the airport project had promised to deliver by August next year.
“I am delighted that you are still very much committed to this initiative.
“On our part, we have done the aerial survey we have identified on the basis of earlier discussion with the Air Force and I will present to you that portion that is meant for the NAF within the airport operations and what we will plead for its accelerated development.
“This is not just within our purview but within your purview as well but our vision and going by the timetable that we have from the main contractor the airport should be ready by August 2022.
“So, once you take your own portion of land at the airport, do all that is necessary, we will be happy to quickly make available the Certificate of Occupancy to you and then work with you to attain the plans that you have for the site that has been located to the NAF,” he said. (NAN)
