Ibom Air is set to commence international flight operations in April 2026 as preparations at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, near completion, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has announced.
Keyamo disclosed this after leading a federal government technical team to inspect facilities at the airport alongside Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, during meetings with agencies critical to international airport operations. He said the state has gone ahead of schedule in readying the airport, expressing satisfaction with the quality of infrastructure and the level of preparedness achieved so far.
According to the minister, representatives of Customs, Quarantine, the Nigeria Immigration Service, NDLEA, Police, DSS, NEMA and other aviation agencies were present for a closed-door assessment. “From all we have heard, Akwa Ibom State is ahead of the plan scheduled. We thought the gaps to be closed would be much, but they are virtually very small gaps. Akwa Ibom State has gone ahead of schedule to a full-blown international airport,” he said.
Facilities inspected include a newly constructed international terminal and a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility, which Keyamo described as a key requirement for international operations. He noted that the MRO enables international airlines to conduct routine checks before departure, meeting global standards for airport certification.
The inspection followed the federal government’s designation of the Victor Attah International Airport for international operations on November 27. As part of efforts to fast-track the upgrade, Keyamo constituted a technical committee and directed its members to move to site from the first week of January 2026 to address all outstanding tasks required for full international status.
The inspection team included the permanent secretary of the ministry, Yakubu Adam Kofarmata; the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Chris Najomo; directors from the ministry and NCAA; and senior officials from FAAN, NAMA, NiMET, Aviation Security, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, Immigration, Customs, NDLEA, DSS, quarantine services and the police. To speed up the process, the delegation was divided into technical groups covering the terminal, aerodrome and control tower, and runway and airside facilities.
Governor Eno thanked the minister for his commitment to ensuring aviation infrastructure is effectively utilised for national economic growth. He also expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for approving the airport’s upgrade and releasing statutory funds for its development, while acknowledging the groundwork laid by past administrations in the state.
Eno reaffirmed Akwa Ibom’s commitment to working closely with federal aviation authorities to achieve the target of operating the first international flight by April 1, 2026. He said the presence of a modern terminal and an MRO facility positions Uyo as an emerging aviation hub with strong potential for improved connectivity, increased investment and sustained economic growth.
