The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has lauded the current Board and Management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for its support to the Nigerian Air Force and other security agencies operating in the region.

Air Marshal Aneke, who gave the commendation during a courtesy visit at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, highlighted some of the development projects the Commission had executed to assist the security agencies.

He said: "Let me seize this opportunity to commend the NDDC for its support to the Nigerian Air Force and other security agencies for its unflinching support to us. We can see the good work you are putting in, such as the provision and installation of solar lights, the provision of 713 solar inverters, which have helped enhance safety and operational efficiency in the region, and the donation of a multi-purpose facility to the Nigerian Air Force at Kolo-Otuoke, Bayelsa State. In that facility, we now have one of the Administrative and Management Schools, the physical education, skills acquisition centre and a host of other centres which were deliberately drafted from Kaduna State as a mark of appreciation to the commission's efforts"

Air Marshal Aneke observed that the objectives of the NDDC, anchored on providing socio-economic development for the Niger Delta region, were in tandem with the strategic duties of the Nigerian Air Force of providing a secure environment for national growth and development, noting that the learning centre would provide opportunities for the Nigerians, foreigners and interested members of staff of the Commission.

He appealed to the NDDC board to consider rehabilitating and equipping the Internally Displaced Persons IDP centres with reliable modern systems to serve as a training hub.

The Chief of Air Staff, who said that the Nigerian Air Force is committed to a long-lasting partnership capable of promoting peace and stability, sought NDDC’s intervention to provide accommodation for its staff serving in Yenagoa, Port Harcourt, Benin, Asaba and Warri.

Responding, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, said that, as an interventionist agency, the Commission was always prepared to partner with both private and public organs in areas of development, especially in security.

He remarked: "Terrorism is like a virus, and if not curtailed, will spread to other parts of the country. But I want to commend you because, since you assumed office, you have risen to the challenges posed by insecurity. So, what we do here in the Niger Delta is to support you, because there can be no development without peace, and we need this collaboration. It is a collective task between us and the security agencies, and we are ready to support you because the President wants peace in this part of the country.

"All we expect is for you to maximise the benefits, the same way we have taken development to the nooks and crannies when we started the 'Operation light up the Niger Delta', where almost every community has been lit up, which has drastically reduced militancy and criminality and helped in the area of commerce.

Ogbuku commended the Nigerian Air Force for maintaining the facilities donated to it over the years, and appreciated the security agency for extending its gesture of allowing staff of the Commission to participate in the new School of Administration and Management relocated from Kaduna State to the region, as a way of enhancing staff training.

He assured that the partnership between the Commission and the Nigerian Air Force would stand the test of time.

•PHOTO: Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke (middle), Flanked by the Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Mr Chiedu Ebie (2nd right); the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku (2nd left); during a courtesy visit at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt. With them are Air Vice Marshal E. Onyebashi (right) and Air Vice Marshal M. Ekwueme (left).2. The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, (2nd left), poses with the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku (2nd right), during a courtesy visit at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt. With them are the NDDC Executive Director Projects, Dr Victor Antai (left) and the NDDC Executive Director Corporate Services, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde (right).

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