Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has outlined the economic and regional benefits of the newly attained international status of the Victor Attah International Airport. He described it as a development that will impact not only the state but Nigeria and the wider Gulf of Guinea region.
READ ALSO: NAF Boss Assures Akwa Ibom Of Stronger Security Architecture Speaking during a press briefing on his return from the maiden international flight from Accra, Ghana, the governor said the milestone would stimulate growth across multiple sectors, particularly tourism, trade, and investment.
Eno noted that the availability of direct international connectivity would eliminate the need for passengers to transit through other countries within the sub-region, while positioning Akwa Ibom as a destination for global engagements. “We cannot succeed in tourism without a functional airport.
Now that we have gone international, we can connect directly within the sub-region without overflying Nigeria as was previously the case,” he said. He also expressed optimism that the development would transform Uyo into a hub for international conferences, drawing comparisons with established destinations such as Kigali, especially with ongoing investments in conference and hospitality infrastructure.
He further disclosed plans to establish a cargo terminal to strengthen trade routes and expand the airport’s capacity within the regional aviation network. As part of efforts to consolidate gains in the sector, the governor announced the creation of a Ministry of Aviation and Airport Development, with Uwem Ekanem appointed to oversee its affairs pending the appointment of a substantive commissioner.
Reflecting on the airport’s development, Governor Eno acknowledged the contributions of past administrations, including those of Victor Attah, Godswill Akpabio, and Udom Emmanuel, describing leadership as a continuum built on successive efforts. The governor also revealed plans to expand the fleet of Ibom Air to 10 aircraft, with an additional airbus expected in June, alongside continued investment in human capacity development.