Aviation development

Key facts

Area of work

Transport

LGA

Akwa Ibom, statewide

Status

Ongoing

Projects ongoing

10

Night operations funding

N1.194 billion released in July 2025 for navigation aids, airfield lighting, electricity and NAMA charges

First international flight

Round trip to Accra, Ghana, on 4 May 2026

New ministry

Ministry of Aviation and Airport Development created in 2026

Photos

Design model

About the project

Aviation Development covers the group of projects the Akwa Ibom State Government is building at the Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo under Governor Umo Eno. The Governor has said no fewer than 10 critical projects are being built or completed in the aviation sector.

The projects are paid for by the state government. They include a second runway, apron expansion, the Aviation Village, perimeter fencing, an airport hospital and modern security surveillance systems. They build on the new smart terminal building, the taxiway, the access road and car park, and the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility. In July 2025 the Governor released N1.194 billion to replace navigation aids, upgrade airfield lighting and pay for services, so that night flights could resume. The Governor has also created a Ministry of Aviation and Airport Development to manage and expand the airport.

The new terminal came into use in 2026, and the airport made its first international round trip, to Accra in Ghana, on 4 May 2026. Ibom Air, the state-owned airline, is based at the airport and has added new aircraft to its fleet.

The projects are expected to make Uyo a major aviation hub in the Gulf of Guinea, earn foreign exchange from aircraft maintenance and create jobs. They form a core part of the ARISE Agenda's plan to grow the state economy beyond oil.

The project at a glance

Project location