The Commissioner for Aviation and Transport Technology, Mrs. Ngozi Obichukwu, disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists at the Chuba Okadigbo International Airport, Onueke, shortly after the departure of 90 Ebonyi State scholarship beneficiaries to Europe.
According to the commissioner, the establishment of a state-owned airline, to be known as Ebonyi Air, is part of the administration’s broader commitment to human capital development, infrastructure expansion, and economic transformation.
She described Governor Francis Nwifuru as a leader deeply committed to people-oriented governance, stressing that sustainable development is anchored on investing in human capacity.
“His Excellency is a humanitarian and empathy-filled governor. If you develop infrastructure without developing people, that development will collapse.
"He is particular about human development, and that is why we are happy. When these young people improve themselves abroad, Ebonyi State will ultimately benefit,” she said.
Obichukwu noted that Ebonyi State, once stigmatized as educationally and economically backward, has recorded significant progress in the last three years under the current administration.
“There was a time nobody wanted to identify with Ebonyi State. We were labelled illiterate and backward. But today, through deliberate policies and sustained effort, Ebonyi has moved beyond that narrative and is now progressing faster than some states that were ahead of us,” she added.
Speaking on aviation safety and infrastructure, the commissioner emphasized that aviation operations are highly safety-driven and governed by strict procedures.
She revealed that the state recently completed major upgrades at the Chuba Okadigbo International Airport, including the completion of the permanent control tower, which replaces the mobile tower that had been in use for the past five years.
“About three days ago, we completed the elevation of the permanent control tower. We also installed an elevator in the nine-storey tower, making access easier for personnel,” she said.
Obichukwu further disclosed that the airport is now equipped with modern runway lighting, enabling night operations and improving safety for pilots and passengers.
“With the runway lights in place, aircraft can operate safely at night. This is a critical facility that many airports still lack,” she noted.
On the licensing status, the commissioner confirmed that the airport and the airline operations have received the necessary approvals.
“This airport is now fully licensed, and we have approval for flight operations. Ebonyi Air is real. It is licensed, and the aircraft is already on ground,” she declared.
She, however, clarified that the aircraft is not stationed in Ebonyi due to the absence of hangar facilities, noting that aircraft hangars are currently available only in Lagos and Abuja.
“Aviation is not something you rush or cut corners with. There are procedures. Some people expect to see the aircraft parked here, but without hangars, that is not possible. The aircraft is on ground, and documentation is still being completed,” she explained.
Obichukwu assured that once all regulatory and operational requirements are finalized, Ebonyi Air will commence operations as promised by the governor.
She added that the state is positioning itself to host cargo, commercial, domestic, and international flights in the near future.
“You will see cargo flights here. You will see commercial flights, domestic and international. By the grace of God, all these will come to fruition,” she said.
The development marks a significant milestone in Ebonyi State’s aviation ambitions and underscores the government’s drive to enhance connectivity, boost economic activity, and reposition the state within Nigeria’s aviation landscape.
