Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said the rehabilitation of the runway at the Nigerian Air Force Base, Port Harcourt reflects the strength of collaboration between the Rivers State Government and the Nigerian Air Force in tackling national security challenges.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony of the runway on Thursday, Governor Fubara described the project as a “statement of intent” that Rivers State stands firmly with the Armed Forces.
“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,” he said.
He said the government and people of Rivers State are proud to be associated with the historic intervention. He noted that the NAF remains one of the institutions upon which Nigeria’s unity rests.
“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 stated.
He acknowledged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,for providing leadership that continues to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.
Governor Fubara explained that national security is the foundation for every other area of development.
“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.
He stressed that because Rivers State is the heart of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, the security of the state is directly tied 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 said.
The Governor said it is therefore a duty for a responsible state government to support institutions mandated to safeguard national assets. He described the runway rehabilitation as a product of that sense of duty.
“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 deliver immediate operational gains for the NAF in the South-South.
“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 the safety of aerial operations. It will strengthen rapid-response capacity in those moments when time itself is the difference between order and disorder,” he said.
Governor Fubara added that the rehabilitated runway will also support the Federal Government’s campaign against economic sabotage in the Niger Delta. According to him, it will boost
the ongoing campaign against crude oil theft, illegal refining, pipeline vandalism, and the other criminal enterprises that continue to bleed the national economy.
He noted that the ceremony also reflects the excellent working relationship between the state and the Air Force, which extends beyond infrastructure to 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 directed at improving operational effectiveness and at advancing the welfare of the gallant officers and personnel who serve here,” the Governor said.
The Governor commended the Chief of the Air Staff and personnel of the NAF for their sacrifice, and all those who worked on 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 (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke who performed the ceremonial rituals of commissioning the facility, hailed the Rivers State Government on the successful completion and unveiling of the newly rehabilitated runway.
Aneke said it was an eloquent testimony of the robust collaboration between the Nigerian Air force and the Rivers State Government in the security sector. The new facility, Aneke said, will enhance the operations of the Nigeria Air force particularly in the task of protecting critical national assets and infrastructure in Rivers State.
He described the rehabilitated runway as timely and critical to ongoing air operations, training, and disaster response missions in the South-South region.
