Ugwuanyi Pleads With NAF For Exchange of Land For Air Craft Maintenance.

In furtherance of his administration’s investment drive, Governor
Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State on Wednesday appealed to the Nigerian
Air Force to allow the state government take over the Force’s piece of
land located near the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu to be
used by an indigenous airline, for the establishment
of a world standard Aircraft Maintenance Facility in the state.

Gov. Ugwuanyi, who made the appeal at the Government House, Enugu when
the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar, paid him a
courtesy visit, stated that the request was “in line with the state
government’s aspiration to create an Aviation Hub that would support
the policies of the Federal Government towards the development of the
Aviation Sector”.

The Governor explained that the appeal was sequel to an earlier
request to the Nigerian Air Force by his administration, adding that
the state government had promised to give the Force “an alternative
piece of land of equal or even larger size in Enugu in exchange”.

Emphasizing on the importance of the proposed Aircraft Maintenance
Facility towards the economic development of the state and the country
at large, Gov. Ugwuanyi stressed that “in granting this request, the
NAF would be making yet another outstanding contribution to the
development of the nation’s aviation sector in addition to its
traditional roles”.

The Chief of Air Staff was in Enugu for the groundbreaking ceremony
of the Headquarters Complex, Ground Training Command, Nigerian Air
force Base, Enugu, which was performed by the Governor at a colourful
event.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, Gov. Ugwuanyi commended the Federal
Government for its efforts towards ensuring that the Armed Forces were
well equipped to combat the security challenges facing the country.

He thanked the Chief of Air Staff and the hierarchy of the Nigerian
Air Force for the decision to site the headquarters of the new
command in Enugu, expressing the hope that it “will undoubtedly help to
reinforce the atmosphere of peace and security in the state and which
in turn, stimulates rapid socio-economic development

“As a government, we have always enjoyed a very cordial working
relationship and strategic partnership with the Nigerian Air Force
through its formations and establishments in the State, ” Gov. Ugwuanyi
said, while reassuring the Force of his administration’s continued
support towards the success of the command.

The Governor gave credit to the Air Force and other security agencies
in the state for the enviable status Enugu had earned as “one of the
safest and most secure states in the country.”

Earlier, the Chief of Air Staff expressed delight at the
Governor’s cooperation and support to the Nigerian Air Force, noting
that the new command in Enugu was “very strategic” towards the peace
and security of the country.

Air Marshall Abubakar announced the Force’s plan to establish a
hospital in Enugu that will take care of its personnel and some
neighboring communities, adding that there would be “a special
intervention on upgrade of our secondary schools” in the state to
improve the standard of learning.

He assured that the NAF Enugu Command would take off “very soon”.

CHUKWUMA EZEOGU