The Nigerian Air Force and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) have agreed to deepen collaboration to ensure that security is enhanced and socio-economic development is accelerated in the Niger Delta region.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Kelvin Aneke said as part of efforts to cement partnerships that support both national security and regional growth the Air Force and the NDDC needs to synergies on operational fronts.
Air Marshal Aneke while stating that the Air Force has acquired new equipment capable of bolstering security in the Niger Delta, pledged to contribute directly to improved oil production and overall stability in the area.
He applauded the NDDC for executing various projects in Air Force barracks across the region, noting the commission’s contributions to infrastructure support for security personnel.
The Chief of Air Staff appealed for additional facilities such as accommodation for personnel serving in the Niger Delta, to further enhance their operational effectiveness.
In his remarks, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, poured encomium on the Nigerian Air Force for its pivotal role in combating banditry, Boko Haram insurgency, and other security threats across the country.
He emphasised that peace remains a critical catalyst for development, adding that sustained support for security agencies would enable the commission to deliver more impactful projects in the region.
Dr. Ogbuku described the partnership as a tripod arrangement where oil companies contribute funds to the NDDC to ensure improved security in the Niger Delta Region which in turn would safeguard operations, leading to increased revenue for the commission and greater resources for development initiatives.
The NDDC Managing Director further stated that the commission considers it worthwhile to hand over certain facilities to the military for management, given their demonstrated capacity to maintain and utilise such infrastructure effectively.
Dr. Ogbuku added that the growing synergy between NDDC and security institutions in the country geared towards addressing the intertwined challenges of insecurity and underdevelopment in the Niger Delta region is vital to the growth of Nigeria’s economy.
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