Gombe gov pledges support for NAF base

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Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has pledged continued support for Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Base facilities in Gombe State, just as he received the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar, on a courtesy visit at the Government House, Gombe, on Saturday.

The visit was part of Air Marshal Abubakar’s one-day official engagement in Gombe in furtherance of the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to enhancing security and strengthening its formidable collaboration with the Gombe state government.

While receiving the CAS, Governor Inuwa Yahaya expressed appreciation to the Nigerian Air Force for its role in maintaining peace and security in Gombe State and the Northeast region, particularly in the sustained fight against insurgency, banditry, and other criminal acts that threaten the peace and stability of Nigeria.

The governor attributed the state’s relative peace and stability to the synergistic efforts of the military and other security agencies, assuring his administration’s continued support for the NAF and other sister organisations.

According to him, “Your visit today reaffirms the commitment of the Nigerian Air Force to the safety and security of our people. We are grateful for the continued support and partnership, which have been crucial in safeguarding Gombe State and, by large, the entire Northeast sub-region against security threats such as insurgency, banditry, and other criminal acts.”

He reiterated his government’s commitment to providing the necessary logistics and infrastructure to aid the operations of the Air Force in Gombe State.

“I assure you that we will continue to support the Nigerian Air Force and other security agencies operating in Gombe State. At the NAF base, we will assist in building additional structures to accommodate your personnel and the facilities you deploy,” the governor added.

Responding to the requests made by the Chief of Air Staff on the need to create a buffer zone of at least 1 kilometre at all sides of the NAF Combat Reconnaissance Base and connect the base to the Gombe regional water expansion system, the Governor instructed the Gombe Geographic Information System (GOGIS) and the Ministry of Water Resources to fast-track the process of providing the requests made by the CAS.

“I have listened to your requests. As I mentioned earlier, we will do everything necessary to support you. You may recall that, at the initial stage of setting up the base, we committed to allocating some hectares, which we later expanded to 230 hectares,” he added.

“We will expand further if the need arises. Regarding the buffer zone, I am directing the Director-General of GOGIS to liaise with you to ensure it is established promptly,” the Governor stated.

According to him, “Regarding water provision, we will provide water from Wuro Juli to supply the airport, the NAF base, Lawanti and Akko towns, and other surrounding villages. This project is included in our 2024 budget and will be financed through counterpart funding between the federal and state governments.”

“I am directing the Commissioner of Water Resources to fast-track the process for the commencement of work so that we can complete it before the year runs out,” he added.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar, explained that he was in the state to assess the progress so far made and the challenges confronting NAF Combat Reconnaissance Base with a view to improving it for enhanced combat capabilities as it intends to provide security for the state and the entire Northeast sub-region.

He noted that while the Nigerian Air Force has achieved tremendous success in making the base habitable for its officers and men, more infrastructural developments like roads, water, electricity, and additional blocks of accommodation are needed.

Air Marshal Bala Abubakar commended the Gombe State Government for its support and cooperation with the Nigerian Air Force and other security agencies, emphasising the importance of strengthening the relationship to address emerging security challenges effectively.

He further appealed to Governor Inuwa Yahaya to look into the possibility of assisting the Nigerian Air Force in its quest to make the base fully operational for its officers and men so that they can conveniently and effectively discharge their primary responsibility of securing the lives and property of the people of the state and, by extension, the Northeast sub-region.

The CAS told his host that as the chief executive officer of Gombe state, the burden of securing the State rests on his shoulders, assuring the Governor of the support of the NAF and other sister security agencies as partners in progress towards ensuring that Gombe continues to remain peaceful.

He used the visit to commend the Gombe State Governor for his remarkable achievements in office, saying under his stewardship, the State has recorded unprecedented social, economic and infrastructural development.

“Your commitment to infrastructural development, health care improvement and educational advancement has brought about substantial improvement in the lives of the citizens of Gombe. Your investment drive has placed Gombe State as the number one state in ease of doing business for two years on record”, the CAS stated.

The courtesy visit was attended by the Deputy Governor, Manassah Daniel Jatau, Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, the Chief of Staff, Alh. Abubakar Inuwa Kari, the Head of Service, Ahmed Kasimu Abdullahi, Commissioners and Special Adviser on Security Matters, senior military officers on the CAS’ entourage, as well as other heads of security agencies in the state, as contained in a statement by Ismaila Uba Misilli, Director-General (Press Affairs), Government House, Gombe.

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