Otti Approves 100 Hectares for Air Force Base, Says Abia Airport Runway Near Completion

Governor of Abia state, Dr. Alex Otti has approved the allocation of 100 hectares of land at the Abia Airport Project site for the Nigerian Air Force to establish a training base in Abia State.

The approval was granted on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, when the governor received a delegation from the Air Force’s Ground Training Command led by the Air Officer Commanding, Adebayo Kehinde, at the Government House in Umuahia.

The Air Force had earlier requested an expansion of the 50 hectares initially earmarked for the training base at the airport project site.

Responding to the request, Otti approved 100 hectares of land and assured the delegation of the state government’s readiness to support the establishment of the facility.

“You can take it for granted that you have at least 100 hectares of land in that place,” the governor said, while commending the Air Force for approving the establishment of a base and training facility in the state.

Otti also disclosed that the runway of the ongoing Abia Airport Project would soon be completed.

According to him, the project is being executed through a partnership arrangement between the Abia State Government and the Federal Government.

“The partnership is such that Abia State Government is handling the runway, while the Federal Government is responsible for the airport terminal,” he explained, expressing optimism that the runway would be ready soon.

The governor further assured that the contractor handling the renovation of the Air Force office in the state would be pressured to complete the project before the end of April so that the Chief of Air Staff can formally commission the facility.

He also urged the Air Force to continue supporting the state government’s efforts to combat crime and strengthen security across the state.

Earlier in his remarks, Air Vice Marshal Kehinde commended the security situation in Abia, noting that the state currently stands out among states in the South-East region.

“From the reports I get regularly, obviously, Abia is standing out. These things don’t happen accidentally. It must be a proactive effort, especially with strong support for the military and other security organizations,” he said.

The Air Force commander also requested that the land allocation be increased to between 100 and 150 hectares to allow for the establishment of a larger facility, including a proposed Special Forces Training Centre for jungle warfare operations.
He explained that the centre would enhance operational readiness and strengthen security within Abia and the wider region.