Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa on Friday pledged support to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to tackle criminality in the Niger-Delta region.

Dickson made the pledge in Yenagoa during the visit of the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadiq Abubakar to the state.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Chief of Air Staff was in the state to inaugurate projects at the Mini base of the Nigerian Air force, Yenagoa.

The governor, while stressing the importance of security to development, pointed out that his administration was also conscious of secured environment for its citizens.

“I will also support every efforts and plans to ensure that air force school, including primary and secondary are built in Bayelsa to enable our people to be parts and parcel of the NAF.

“We will continue to provide the enabling environment to ensure that the issue criminality is properly checked, because we will not have development with secured environment,” Dickson said.

In his remark, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadiq Abubakar, said that NAF would continue to contribute its quota to various security operations to combat all forms of criminality in Nigeria.

“We have Operation Awatse in the South-West and Delta Force in the South-South region.

“As we speak, NAF surveillance and offensive air assets are daily providing the needed support to sister services as the Armed Forces of Nigeria is determined to tackle all acts of criminality in the region.

“We shall not relent nor rest on our oars until we ensure the protection of every inch of the country’s territory and its people as well as infrastructure.

“We will continue to work with the Operation Delta Safe in the Niger-Delta,” he said.

On the significance of the inaugurated projects, Abubakar said the projects would enhance the professional competence of the air force personnel.

He said that the projects were part of the ongoing efforts to improve welfare and re-position the Nigerian Air Force.

Abubakar commended the Bayelsa Governor for his support to NAF’s operations in the state by providing enough land for the projects.

Air Vice-Marshal Emmanuel Agwungwu, Air Officer Commanding, Bayelsa Mobility Command, NAF, also commended the Governor for creating an enabling environment for their operation in the state. (NAN)