Eno and the Emergent Air Force Base in Akwa Ibom

Eno and the Emergent Air Force Base in Akwa Ibom

Through collaboration with the high command of the Nigerian Air Force, Governor Umo Eno is facilitating the establishment of an airbase in Akwa Ibom which is the only state in the South-South zone without one.

By Inemesit Ina

“We thank you for the Air Force base that is going to be strategically located in Akwa Ibom State. Before now, apart from the school and the presence at the airport, the Air Force was the only arm of security that was not really on ground in Akwa Ibom State.

Governor Umo Eno addressing the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, on Thursday, July 31, 2025 at Government House, Uyo

Christian clerics in Akwa Ibom State often describe an unacceptable and preventable lack as “error.” Borrowing from them, one can say that it has been an “error” all along for Akwa Ibom to be the only state in the South-South zone of Nigeria without an airbase, what with her critical maritime, oil and gas assets.

That lack is about to become history. Thanks to the partnership between Governor Umo Eno and the high command of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), the service is establishing a Forward Operating Base (FOB) at the abandoned Mobil Airstrip in Eket with barracks for its personnel not too far away. It was signed, sealed and delivered on Thursday, July 31, 2025 when the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar, visited Government House, Uyo.

During the visit, the Governor presented land documents for the barracks to the CAS. That came seven months after Eno had announced the donation of the airstrip to the NAF for its base.

*When the Air Chief Came Calling*

A Government House press release elaborately captured the visit of the Air chief.

Excerpts:

_Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has announced the donation of a parcel of land for the establishment of barracks for the Forward Operating Base (FOB) of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in the state._

_At a courtesy visit on him by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar, at the Government House, Uyo, the Governor made a presentation of the land documents._

_He said the state under his leadership was committed to sustaining the trajectory of security in the state and expressed hope that the Air Force base will be of great value in protecting the state’s and national boundaries._

_The Governor, who has paid high premium on security since assumption of office, said the state will continue to partner with all the security agencies, including NAF, and urged the force to continue with its good works in the state and county generally._

_”We thank you for the Air Force base that is going to be strategically located in Akwa Ibom State. Before now, apart from the school and the presence at the airport, the Air Force was the only arm of security that was not really on ground in Akwa Ibom State._

_”But with this establishment of forward operating base, we believe that the Air Force is now fully integrated into our security architecture as a state and we welcome you. We hope and trust that you will continue to work to protect our international boundaries, knowing that Akwa Ibom is a litoral state, especially to help with our air operations to ensure that we continue to maintain security in the land._

_”As a state we take security very seriously and that is why the state has continued to remain one of the most peaceful states in this country. So we will continue to work with all security agencies including the Air Force,” he said._

_The Governor, who appreciated the Chief of Air Staff for the academic standard at the Air Force School, requested for some concessions to enable the school accommodate more Akwa Ibom children._

_In his remark, Air Marshal Abubakar appreciated the Governor for the land donation, his continuous support to national security initiatives and for his proactive vision in promoting infrastructural development and investment in the state._

_”Permit me to, on behalf of the entire NAF family, appreciate you for the gracious donation of land for the establishment of barracks accommodation for a Forward Operating Base (FOB) at an accessible distance from the Eket Airstrip_.

_”This would not only fast track the setting up of the necessary facilities for this strategic process but would add great value for both national defence and homeland security in support of other forms of civil commercial enterprise. The FOB, when established, would provide further assurance of safety and security of persons and property, thereby fostering the entrenchment of Akwa Ibom State as a very good investment and tourism destination._

_”I am particularly grateful for the strategic collaboration between Akwa Ibom State and the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), especially in providing the enabling support for the momentous transfer of the Eket Airstrip to the NAF. This significant step demonstrates your commitment towards the strengthening of security within the state for several reasons.”_

_He said the transfer of the airstrip to NAF would help to extend air power for national security, protection of territorial integrity as well as support the drive to promote a thriving blue economy, adding that NAF would be better positioned to protect critical national assets around the Akwa Ibom State shoreline when they become fully operational._

_”Some of these assets include the Floating Liquefied Natural Gas Plant, the Ibom Deep Sea Port and the BUA Refinery. These assets, which hold immense national and economic value, would greatly benefit from the enhanced security presence of the NAF at Eket. Your Excellency, Akwa Ibom State would reap the dividends of this improved strategic posture,” he said._

_He appreciated the Governor for the warm reception and hospitality for his team and assured of continuous support for the security component of the ARISE Agenda._

*The Governor’s Push for Increased Military Presence in Akwa Ibom*

In the last one year, the Governor has been relentlessly pushing for increased military presence to bolster the security of Akwa Ibom.

He started with the Army, advocating for the establishment of a battalion in the Oron/Udung Uko/Urue Offong Oruko/Mbo/Okobo Federal Constituency of the state.

Eno first requested for the Army formation on August 26, last year, when the then Chief of Army Staff (COAS), the late Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, visited him before the opening of the COAS 2024 combined second and third quarters’ Conference in Uyo.

In February, this year, he again raised the issue, this time with the new General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Major General Emmanuel Ejim-Emekah.

In December, last year, the Governor began to collaborate with the Air Force for the establishment of an airbase.

*Significance of the FOB*

For long, the NAF has had minimal presence in Akwa Ibom. The only form of presence has been through the Air Force Comprehensive Secondary School at Okop Ndua Erong (former Governor Victor Attah’s village) in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area (LGA) and a small regiment of guards at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, owned by the State Government (the NAF handles external security at all airports in Nigeria while the Federal Airports’ Authority of Nigeria is in charge of internal security).

With the FOB, there is going to be operational presence of the NAF for the first time since the creation of the state nearly 38 years ago.

The necessity of an airbase in Akwa Ibom became manifest in April 2021 when a fighter jet had to be scrambled (a technical term of the Air Force) into the state from the NAF Base in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, at the then Governor’s request, to bomb out militants of the secessionist group, the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB). The separatists had set up base at Ntak Ikot Akpan in Essien Udim LGA, terrorising villagers and killing policemen and soldiers sent to dislodge them.

It is a truism that modern warfare is won from the air, as demonstrated time after time by the world’s largest Air Force, the United States Air Force (USAF), and the much smaller but ferocious Israeli Air Force (IAF).

*The FOB’s Status*

The three services of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) operate in the field through divisions or commands, at the apex, and their units.

A division in the Army consists of brigades while a brigade, in turn, comprises of battalions.

The other two services are stratified likewise.

A command in the Navy or Air Force is the equivalent of a division in the Army.

Going below, a base in the Navy or Air Force equates a brigade in the Army.

Further down, a FOB in the Navy or Air Force is equivalent to a battalion in the Army.

The Army also has FOBs but they are of temporary nature and of lesser status than the ones in the Navy and Air Force.

The trajectory of the Army FOBs in three disputed communities in Akwa Ibom, which bound Abia State, give a perfect picture.

Then Governor Godswill Akpabio had attracted the three bases in 2010 from the COAS then, Lieutenant General Azubike Ihejirika, interestingly an indigene of Abia State. Never a man who does things in half measures, Akpabio proceeded to build many permanent structures at the bases.

However, two of the FOBs, located in Essien Udim and Ika LGAs, have long been abandoned by the Army despite pleas by the indigenes. Only the one in Obot Akara still exists.

Ordinarily, all FOBs are supposed to be temporary formations but the Navy, in particular, has somehow made its own permanent with well-built bases in the South-South and South-West zones of the country since the establishment of the first one at Ibaka in Mbo LGA of Akwa Ibom State in 1993. The Air Force has followed suit.

Thus, the Eket FOB will have the same status with 6 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, Ibagwa in Abak LGA, and the FOB of the Nigerian Navy, Ibaka.

Their superior formations, 2 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, headquartered at Mbiokporo in Nsit Ibom LGA, and Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Jubilee, Ikot Abasi (naval base), are of equal status.

An Akwa Ibom-born retired Air Vice Marshal (AVM), who is familiar with the airstrip, having landed a number of military aircraft there in the past, when it was owned by Mobil, and visited the place lately, told this writer on telephone on Wednesday, last week, that, with time, the Eket FOB could be upgraded to a full-fledged base similar in status to the ones in Calabar (Cross River State), Port Harcourt (Rivers State), Yenagoa (Bayelsa State) and Benin City (Edo State). The NAF has a FOB in Warri (Delta State) to boot.

Instructively, the Army and Navy in Akwa Ibom started with battalion and FOB, respectively, before the coming of brigade and full operations’ base.

*The Air Force Generals from Akwa Ibom*

Akwa Ibom can boast of a remarkable number of former and serving Air Force generals.

*The Lone Three-star General*

A former CAS, Air Marshal Nsikak-Abasi Essien Eduok (retd.), from Mbak Ekpe in Ibesikpo Asutan LGA, has held the record of the only indigenous three-star general in all three services of the AFN from 1998 till date even after his death in 2021.

When Eduok was a young officer, he blazed the trail as the first fighter pilot from what is now Akwa Ibom State.

Much later, he became the first AVM, a two-star general, from the state (30 years ago).

Eduok served as Minister of Aviation from 1995 to 1996 and CAS between 1996 and 1999.

To his credit, the ex-Air chief attracted the Air Force school to the state as he was leaving service.

*The Seven Former Two-star Generals*

Since Eduok’s retirement, there have been seven former AVMs from the state. Six retired voluntarily while one died in active service.

The six who retired were AVMs Emmanuel Aquaisua (late), from Obong Itam in Itu LGA, Stanley Jimmy Usoro, from Ikot Ekpeyak Ikono in Uyo LGA, Francis Bassey Nyoyoko, from Adiasim Ikot Essien Ndot in Essien Udim LGA, Tommy Victor Udoh, from Mbioto I in Etinan LGA, Uko Etim Ebong, from Nung Ukot Itam in Itu LGA, and Sampson Okon Akpasa, from Nkwot Etok in INI LGA.

AVM Mfon Udo Ekpoh, from Ikot Mbong in ONNA LGA, died in service in 2021.

*The Two Serving Two-star Generals*

The two serving two-star generals from Akwa Ibom in the NAF are AVMs Iboro Harry Etukudo, from Atan Ikpe in Ikot Abasi LGA, and Esen Paul Efanga from Afaha Offot in Uyo LGA.

As Chief of Policy and Plans at the NAF Headquarters in Abuja, Etukudo is the _de facto_ deputy CAS while Efanga holds another strategic appointment as the Commandant of the Air Warfare Centre, Abuja.

Both AVMs parade impressive pedigrees.

Etukudo is the nephew of a former Minister of State for Finance, Mr. Akpan Wilson Etukudo, and Efanga is the son of a former Director (now called Comptroller-General) of the Nigeria Customs Service, the late Elder Paul Efanga, who was appointed by the military regime of the late Major General Muhammadu Buhari in 1984.

*The Retired and Serving One-star Generals*

There are several more retired and serving one-star generals from Akwa Ibom in the NAF.

The first was the late Brigadier Udoakaha Jacob Esuene, from Afaha Eket in Eket LGA. He served as the first Military Governor of the old South-Eastern State (now Akwa Ibom and Cross River States) from 1967 to 1975. In his time, the NAF copied the United States Air Force’s style of ranking its officers same way with the Army (the USAF actually began as an arm of the Army while some Nigerian Army officers, including Esuene, were used to start the NAF, as non-pilots, in 1964). The Royal (British) Air Force’s style of ranking (similar to the Royal Navy’s) was adopted by the NAF in 1976. It subsists till now.

After the exit of Esuene (who joined the Army in 1958) from the Air Force in 1975, there was a hiatus for 17 years. Eduok, Esuene’s junior in the military by 10 years, became the next NAF one-star general (rechristened Air Commodore from Brigadier) from Akwa Ibom in 1992.

Since then, there have been many more, both retired and serving. Among them were Eduok’s childhood friend, kinsman and successor as Minister of Aviation, the late Air Commodore Ita Udo-Imeh, from Nung Oku Akpasima (Ikot Itere) in Ibesikpo Asutan LGA, and a former Military Governor of Akwa Ibom State, the late Air Commodore Idongesit Okon Nkanga, from Ikot Nya in Nsit Ibom LGA.

Udom’s “Complete Value Chain”

In recent years, interest in the military by youths in the South-South and South-East zones has waned. Not many are joining.

Perhaps, the establishment of the airbase in Akwa Ibom would spark renewed interest in the NAF, nay the military, in the state.

Former Governor Udom Emmanuel, while repeatedly lobbying for the airbase, viewed it as a catalyst for entry of Akwa Ibom youths into the NAF.

For instance, in January 2018, he told the then CAS, Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar, who was on a courtesy call to him, “I really want it to be on record that during your tenure as Chief of Air Staff, an Air Force base was established in Akwa Ibom State so that when you graduate those brilliant students (of Air Force Comprehensive Secondary School), they will have Air Force base to go and train as Air Force officers. It is called complete value chain.

“Most of them, you could see the way they were smiling, they all want to look like the CAS. But how can they when there is no Air Force base to go and train to satisfy that desire? Please see what you can do to give us a full-fledged Air Force base.”

For unclear reasons, It was not given.

Thankfully, Eno has now pulled off the feat of facilitating the establishment of the airbase with the “complete value chain” likely to follow.

The “error” is being corrected.

*#AriseRenewedHopeMedia*