Aviation development linked to the Victor Attah International Airport, which Uruan shares with Okobo LGA.
About the project
The airport and aviation development at Victor Attah International Airport covers a new international terminal building and a group of related works at the state-owned airport in Uruan Local Government Area, near Uyo. Besides the terminal, the works include a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hangar, a 3.8-kilometre parallel taxiway with a rapid exit and new apron, a 1.8-kilometre access road, an airport hospital, an aviation village, perimeter fencing and security surveillance systems.
The Akwa Ibom State Government is paying for the works. The terminal building was built by VKS Construction Limited. Work on it began under the previous administration and was completed under Governor Pastor Umo Eno. The MRO hangar is designed to hold two Boeing 747s, eight Airbus A220-300s and all CRJ aircraft at the same time.
After President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the upgrade of the airport to international status, Ibom Air flew the first international flight from Uyo to Kotoka International Airport, Accra, Ghana, on 2 May 2026, returning on 3 May. Governor Eno was at the airport for the flight. The state later created a Ministry of Aviation and Airport Development to oversee the airport.
The upgrade is meant to let travellers fly abroad directly from Uyo, open up cargo and maintenance business, earn foreign exchange and support Ibom Air's growth. It fits the ARISE Agenda's plan to grow the economy beyond oil.
The International Terminal Building, the airport hospital, the taxiway and apron, the access road and the aviation village were listed for commissioning by President Tinubu during the state's 39th anniversary celebrations in September 2026.
Local workers and suppliers
The project engages a mix of engineers, aviation technicians, construction workers, security personnel, power systems specialists, project managers, logistics teams, and support service providers. Local contractors and technical teams are playing a major role in terminal completion, infrastructure finishing, and operational readiness works, while federal aviation agencies and airport professionals provide regulatory and technical support.
