OYO State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Thursday, pledged to donate N500m for the construction of the 671 Air Force Base located in Ajia area of Ibadan, Oyo State.
The governor, who announced the donation while performing the official ground-breaking of the Air Force Base, commended personnel for contributing to stemming the tide of insecurity in the state.
The governor said, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Taiwo Adisa, said the NAF Base and the Ibadan Airport will not only enhance security but also positively affect the push for economic expansion.
He said, “I already said earlier that the state government will be supporting the building of the Air Force Base with N500m. It is available and we want to see rapid construction start here. So far, the Oyo State Government has been working collaboratively with the various security agencies in the state.
“When completed, this new base will improve the operational reach of the Nigerian Air Force in Oyo State and enhance crisis response time.”
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao, thanked the state government for providing the NAF with the land to serve as the permanent site for the construction of structures for the 671 base.
He added that the landmark initiative will consequently provide a befitting environment for the unit to better perform its security mandate within the state, and also enhance internal security operations in the South-West region.
He said, “Hitherto, the (Air Force) Detachment had been without a permanent site and personnel of the unit has had to grapple with the challenge of residing in dispersed locations within Ibadan. This situation posed some operational and administrative constraints to the Unit’s disposition.”
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