Al-Makura donates 100 hectares of land for NAF rapid response base

Gov. Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State on Tuesday donated 100 hectares of land to the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) for the construction of its permanent Rapid Response Base in the state.

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, had on Feb. 20, during a courtesy visit to the governor, announced that the Air Force would establish a base in the state to curtail the security challenges facing the zone.

Al-Makura announced the donation when a delegation from the NAF headquarters led by AVM Ismail Kaita visited the state.

He said the 100 hectares of land earmarked for the base was located in Kwandere village near Lafia where a Cargo airport was being constructed.

“We have already dedicated about 1,000 hectares dedicated for the Cargo Airport, out of which only about 600 have been used.

“So, we have decided to dedicate 100 hectares for them to make their base so that they can also use the airport attached to their base just like what we have at the Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano, ” the governor said.

He also gave the Lafia Conference Hotel as a temporary accommodation for the 150 personnel of the rapid response unit to be deployed to the state.

AM Kaita, on behalf of the Chief of Air Staff, thanked the governor for the gesture, saying it would go a long way in enhancing the security of the state.

Kaita said that the personnel of the rapid response unit had already been posted, adding that they would arrive in the state as soon as the renovation of the temporary base was completed.