The House of Representatives says it is determined to ensure that appropriate laws are put in place to empower the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to fight pipeline vandalism and other socio-economic vices in the Niger Delta.
The Chairman, House Committee on Nigerian Air Force, Samson Okwu, revealed this on Monday when he and members of the committee paid a courtesy visit to Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson at Government House, Yenagoa.
Okwu and other committee members were received by the Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd.) and some ranking officials of the state government on behalf of the the Governor.
The committee chairman said the House was willing to cooperate with the executive arm of the government in the war against pipeline vandalism, oil theft and other social vices until they were totally eradicated in the country.
Okwu said the committee was in the state to have an on-the-spot assessment of the Nigerian Air Force installations in the state in order to recommend appropriate measures for improvement where necessary.
Okwu said, “The committee shall cooperate with the executive arm of government to make sure that the war against pipeline vandalism and other social vices is totally won.
“The committee is ever determined to support all people-oriented programmes by the NAF that will have a direct bearing on the host communities.”
He sympathised with the state government over the lives that were lost during oil spills and other disasters.
Okwu solicited the support of the state government in the area of providing a mobility tower for the Air Force Mobility Command stationed in the state.
In his remarks, Dickson, represented by Jonah, commended the working relationship between security agencies and the state government.
He said the synergy was responsible for the relative peace and security in the state.
On the request for a mobility tower, Dickson said the state would look into the request objectively.
He, however, assured the committee of the state government’s preparedness to partner with any arm of the armed forces to bring peace, saying peace remained a panacea for growth and development.
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