Akwa Ibom targets April 2026 for commencement of international flights at Victor Attah airport

The federal government has begun the process of upgrading the Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo to full international status.

This comes as Akwa Ibom state targets the commencement of international flights by April 1, 2026.

Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, on Tuesday led a federal government technical committee to inspect facilities at the airport as part of efforts to fast-track the upgrade.

The plan was disclosed in a statement on Wednesday by Tunde Moshood, special adviser on media and communications to the minister.

The inspection team included Yakubu Adam Kofarmata, permanent secretary of the ministry of aviation and aerospace development; Chris Najomo, director-general of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA); Ahmed Tijani, director of air transport management; and Godwin Balang, director of aerodromes at the NCAA, alongside other senior officials.

Representatives of key aviation and security agencies were also present, including the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET), aviation security (AVSEC), the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).

Other agencies present were the Nigerian Immigration Service, the Nigeria Customs Service, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Department of State Services (DSS), quarantine services and the police.

“To fast-track the inspection process, the delegation was divided into three technical groups before the commencement of the exercise, which was formally anchored by the Honourable Minister,” Moshood said.

“Each group toured designated areas of professional concern, namely the terminal building, the aerodrome and control tower, and the runway/airside facilities.”

KEYAMO DIRECTS COMMITTEE TO ADDRESS PENDING TASKS IN JANUARY

At the end of the inspection, Keyamo and members of the team reportedly expressed satisfaction with the scope and quality of work carried out by the Akwa Ibom government under the administration of Umo Eno, the state governor.

Moshood said the minister commended the airport’s design, noting that it allows seamless movement of passengers between domestic and international operations, and described the facility as capable of functioning as a full aviation hub.

According to the statement, the politician disclosed that a technical committee has already been constituted to ensure the prompt and efficient delivery of the project.

Keyamo also instructed members of the committee to move to the site from the first week of January 2026 and swiftly address all pending tasks required to upgrade the airport for full international operations.

Also speaking, Eno praised the minister for his commitment towards expediting the airport’s upgrade.

He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to fully cooperate and work under the technical guidance of the visiting aviation stakeholders to actualise the vision of operating the first international flight from the airport by April 1, 2026.

According to the statement, the presence of facilities such as a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) centre and a modern terminal positions Uyo as an emerging aviation hub with significant potential for improved connectivity, increased investment, and sustained economic growth.

On November 27, the federal government designated the facility for international operations.