Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, the Chief of Staff (CAS), has expressed sadness over the loss of 34% of the land that was initially given to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Command in Makurdi, Benue State.
Given the potential impact on national security, the Air Chief issued a warning to organizations and local populations surrounding NAF Bases across the country to refrain from trespassing on NAF property without authorization.
The warning was issued by the CAS during a visit to Benue State Governor Rev. Father (Dr.) Hyacinth Alia at Government House, Makurdi, on Wednesday, according to a statement from AVM Edward Gabkwet, the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information.
According to the statement, Air Marshal Abubakar was in Benue State to talk about problems involving nearby communities’ encroachment on NAF land near the Makurdi NAF Base.
He disclosed that although the encroachment along the Base’s western perimeter has been managed by the NAF through fencing off encroached parts, the issue has continued at the eastern line.
The CAS further stated that the strategic goal of placing the NAF Command in Makurdi would be negatively distorted by the possible loss of 1,537.8 hectares of the 4,486 hectares of NAF territory, or 34% of the area that was initially allotted in 1977.
Air Marshal Abubakar was quoted as saying that, “Ceding such a significant portion of NAF land would limit the required space for medium and long term infrastructural development necessary for future operational readiness and capability development.”
But Air Marshal Abubakar praised the governor of Benue State for agreeing to form a tripartite committee to look for a long-term solution to the problem.
The committee’s job is to identify a solution that meets the needs of all stakeholders, including the NAF, the impacted communities, and the government of Benue State.
Air Marshal Abubakar praised Governor Alia for his support of the NAF in Benue State as well as his enormous efforts and zeal towards resolving issues of insecurity in the State, while also restating the NAF’s commitment to contributing value to ongoing efforts to end communal clashes, banditry, kidnapping, and other forms of criminality in the State.
According to the statement, the 4,486 hectares of land that Tactical Air Command currently uses as its home base in Makurdi was given to the NAF in 1977 in accordance with the terms of the Signature Plan, which Colonel Abdullahi Shellenge, the governor of Benue State at the time, signed.
The NAF Base was positioned there in order to achieve specific operational and strategic goals related to national security.
However, NAF spokesman noted that, “the land has significantly suffered from encroachment over the years resulting in protracted land disputes between the NAF and neighbouring communities.
“Previous efforts to resolve these disputes have failed to achieve desired results. Although the NAF has contained the encroachment along the western boundary of the Base by fencing off encroached portions, the problem still persists along the eastern boundary of the Base”.
