Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has said that fixing the runway at the Nigerian Air Force Base in Port Harcourt shows how well the Rivers State Government and the Nigerian Air Force work together to solve national security problems.
Fubara also praised President Bola Tinubu for equipping and improving the security forces in the country.
While speaking at the commissioning event of the runway on Thursday, Fubara called the project a "statement of intent" that Rivers State fully supports the Armed Forces.
This was shared in a statement on Thursday by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Onwuka Nzeshi, and sent to newsmen.
"It is a great pleasure and a distinct honour to be here today at the Nigerian Air Force Base, Port Harcourt, for the commissioning of this rehabilitated runway. What we commission this day is more than concrete and asphalt. It is a statement of intent, a declaration that Rivers State stands firmly with those who stand guard over Nigeria," the statement partly read.
He said the government and people of Rivers State are proud to be part of this important project. He noted that the NAF is one of the key institutions that help keep Nigeria united.
"We recognise the Nigerian Air Force as one of the pillars upon which our nationhood rests, an institution whose men and women continue to make enormous sacrifices in defence of our territorial integrity, in the protection of our critical national assets, and in the pursuit of peace and stability across the length and breadth of this country," Fubara continued.
He thanked Tinubu for his leadership that keeps strengthening Nigeria’s security setup. He pointed out that national security is the base for all other development areas.
"As Commander-in-Chief, Mr President has remained firm in his commitment to equipping and repositioning our security institutions, in the clear understanding that national security is not merely one item on the list of national priorities, it is the foundation upon which every other item rests. There can be no thriving economy without security," he said.
Fubara emphasized that since Rivers State is the center of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, the security of the state is closely linked to the security of the nation. "Rivers State occupies a strategic position in the economic life of this nation. As the heart of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, our communities, our waterways, our industries and our infrastructure carry a burden of national significance. The security of Rivers State is therefore inseparable from the security of Nigeria itself," Fubara added.
The governor said it is the duty of a responsible state government to support institutions that protect national assets. He described the runway project as part of that responsibility. "That is the spirit in which this runway was rehabilitated. It is a demonstration of our administration’s conviction that meaningful progress is built on genuine collaboration between the Federal Government and the sub-national governments. Security is a collective responsibility," he stated.
According to him, the facility will bring immediate benefits for the NAF in the South-South region. "The benefits of this facility are practical and immediate. It will enhance the operational capability of the Nigerian Air Force Base, Port Harcourt. It will improve the efficiency and safety of aerial operations. It will strengthen rapid-response capacity in those moments when time itself is the difference between order and disorder," he noted.
Fubara added that the improved runway will also help the Federal Government’s fight against economic sabotage in the Niger Delta. He said it will support efforts against crude oil theft, illegal refining, pipeline vandalism, and other crimes that hurt the national economy.
He mentioned that the ceremony also shows the good relationship between the state and the Air Force, which goes beyond infrastructure to include personnel welfare.
"Today’s ceremony is also a reflection of the excellent working relationship between the Rivers State Government and the Nigerian Air Force. Beyond this runway, our administration has continued to provide support aimed at improving operational effectiveness and advancing the welfare of the gallant officers and personnel who serve here," the Governor said.
He praised the Chief of the Air Staff and NAF personnel for their hard work and all those who contributed to the project. "As this rehabilitated runway is commissioned today, we renew our pledge of partnership, of patriotism, and of service to our dear nation. May this facility stand as an enduring symbol of cooperation, of strength, and of our shared commitment to the peace and prosperity of Rivers State and of the Federal Republic of Nigeria," he said.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, who oversaw the commissioning ceremony, praised the Rivers State Government for completing and unveiling the newly fixed runway.
Aneke said it was a clear sign of the strong collaboration between the Nigerian Air Force and the Rivers State Government in the security area. The new facility, Aneke said, will improve the operations of the Nigerian Air Force, especially in protecting important national assets and infrastructure in Rivers State.
He described the rehabilitated runway as timely and essential for ongoing air operations, training, and disaster response missions in the South-South region.
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