Air Force To Expand Operations In Ibadan

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has said the Nigerian Air Force is seeking to increase its operational capabilities in Ibadan to be able to respond swiftly incase of any security challenges in the South-West.

Abubakar, who said this on Wednesday when he visited Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, said the force would key into the plans of the state to uplift the standards at the Ibadan Airport.

He said he was in Ibadan for an operational visit, saying the idea behind the visit was to identify where there were gaps in the Air Force organizational structure and to fill those gaps.

Abubakar said, “Since 2015, we have restructured the Air Force, addressing gaps in the former structure that we used to have. We have created two field commands and we have also restructured the headquarters of the Air Force.

“Now, we have started restructuring units. We have established quite a number of units in North-East and the North-West because of the security challenges that we are facing, as well as the North-Central. And now, we are looking at the South-West.

“We have realised that we have only a base in Lagos, Ibadan here and in Ipetu-Ijesha. We are critically looking at what gaps are currently in existence in the structure that we have here in the state. And we are very excited to note that you are interested in expanding Ibadan Airport and we want to key into that initiative so that, at the end of the day, we will have a base that is better than what we have right now in Ibadan.

“We want to assure you, Your Excellency, we will really be very happy to key into this your plan of expanding the Airport here so that we can also have Ibadan as another base for the C130 aircraft which is currently in Lagos, so that when we have any problem, we don’t have to fly from Lagos. We can position our aircraft here and operate from here and then bring other aircraft here depending on what is required and the exigency of the time.

“So, I want to solicit for the support of Your Excellency and your government so that when we finally come, we will get all the support that we require from the state government.”

The governor stated that his administration has been working on expanding the Ibadan Airport, including the improvement of its runway, donation of Fire Truck and the effort to put a lot of infrastructure around the airport.

He said: “Yes, I brought in Honourable [Segun] Ogunwuyi, who is in charge of the Investment Agency for Oyo State. He is the one championing the effort to expand the airport, the runway and to also put a lot of infrastructure around the airport.

“We are talking about infrastructure to refuel aircraft. Right now, aircraft do not stay here overnight if they need to refuel. Overland (Airways), which has Ibadan as its base, doesn’t actually let its planes stay here overnight because it cannot refuel the planes. So, once we carry out the project we have earmarked, I believe it will be a lot easier to accommodate whatever programme and whatever the Air Force wants to do around here.”

Makinde expressed satisfaction with the relationship between the state and the Nigerian Air Force, stating that his government would work on how to keep the relationship going and that it will do more to support the Air Force’s programme in the state.

“We are happy with the relationship between the state, the government and the people of Oyo State and the Nigerian Air Force. Since Group Captain Muhammed came here, he has been a gentleman and officer and has been quite fantastic. So, we are thankful and grateful to him. He is a member of Oyo State Security Council.

“He has always been making valuable contributions to discussions and to Operation Burst, which is the state’s security apparatus that we use.

“We awarded a contract to fix the road between Ife-road through Ajia to the Airport because we envisaged that once we push forward with this discussion, and if you bring officers and men here, we want them to stay comfortably and closer to their area of operation. And that is why we are fixing that road. “

He added that it will be a thing of honour for the state to see that the Chief of Air Staff expands the operation of the Air Force.

“It will be an honour for us to be part of that and this government is doing everything possible to make that a reality,” he said.