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Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has said the establishment of an Air Defence Regiment of the 83 Division of the Nigerian Army in the state will strengthen security, protect critical national assets, and accelerate development.
Oborevwori stated this on Thursday during an inspection of facilities and ongoing works for the establishment of the Air Defence unit in the state.
The governor, who was accompanied by the Chief of Standards and Evaluation, Nigerian Army, Major General Thompson Ugiagbe, and Commander, 63 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Ibrahim Buhari, said the state government was committed to providing the necessary support for the military and other security agencies.
He noted that the newly created 83 Division, comprising Delta, Edo, and Bayelsa states, would significantly enhance the capacity of the Nigerian Army to respond to security threats across the region.
According to him, the division comes with several component units, including an Air Defence unit, whose establishment in Delta became necessary due to the strategic location of the state and its proximity to the airport.
Oborevwori said the state had provided land for a temporary facility for the unit while arrangements were being made for its permanent site.
He disclosed that the first batch of between 300 and 400 military personnel is expected to arrive within the next few weeks.
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“We need to support the security agencies because without security, there cannot be development,” the governor said, adding that the improved security architecture in Delta has contributed to a reduction in armed robbery, kidnapping, and other violent crimes.
He noted that the presence of the new military formation would also help protect critical national assets, particularly oil and gas infrastructure.
“The most important benefit is to secure national assets and the people. If you don’t have all these security formations here, you know how it will be,” he said.
The governor commended the Nigerian Army and other security agencies for their efforts in maintaining peace, noting that his administration would continue to collaborate with them to sustain growing confidence among residents, investors, and businesses.
He also recalled his recent visit to the Trans-Forcados pipeline area, where residents expressed satisfaction with the improved security situation.
To ensure prompt operations, Oborevwori directed the Commissioners for Housing and Lands to commence the assessment and scoping of the temporary site, including existing structures that require work.
He stressed that security remains a major pillar of his administration’s development agenda and urged security agencies to sustain their cooperation in the collective interest of Deltans and the nation.
