Owais Crawford
The resumption of airport operations in Nigeria has been a dynamic situation, with several developments over the years. In 2015, there was a focus on the resumption of construction work for a major air cargo terminal at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Imo State. In 2024, the Chuba Okadigbo International Airport in Ebonyi State was set to commence operations in May, following runway rehabilitation. Additionally, in April 2025, the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu resumed operations after emergency runway repairs, reconnecting the southeast region of Nigeria to air travel. On the international front, Dubai's Emirates airline resumed flight schedules to Nigeria in October 2024, ending a nearly two-year hiatus. These instances showcase the evolving landscape of airport operations and developments in Nigeria.
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What You'll Learn
Chuba Okadigbo International Airport to open in Ebonyi State in May 2024
The Chuba Okadigbo International Airport in Ebonyi State, Nigeria, is set to open in May 2024. The airport, located in Onueke Ezza South, will commence full flight operations, including international, domestic, and commercial flights.
The Ebonyi State Government has stated that the airport will be an economic hub, not only for the state but also for the entire South East region, and it will facilitate trade and travel with neighbouring countries such as Cameroon and Chad. The state government is committed to ensuring the safety of airways and transporters using the airport.
The airport has undergone a significant upgrade, including the rehabilitation of its runway, which took ₦13 billion. The runway has been converted from concrete to asphalt to meet the requirements of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAN). The asphalting work is expected to be completed before the airport opens in May.
The Chuba Okadigbo International Airport has faced some criticism from concerned citizens of Ebonyi State, who have expressed disappointment in the slow development of the project and the high cost, which is believed to be around ₦40 billion. However, the state government remains optimistic about the airport's potential to create jobs, boost the state's economy, and attract investors.
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Emirates to resume flights to Nigeria in October 2024
Emirates will resume flights to Nigeria on 1 October 2024, ending a nearly two-year halt to flights between the nations. The airline will operate a daily service between Lagos and Dubai, with 8 First Class suites, 42 Business Class seats, and 304 Economy Class seats available on the Boeing 777-300ER.
The resumption of flight schedules follows discussions between Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in September 2023, which focused on lifting the visa ban and new investments in Nigeria. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) had stopped issuing visas to Nigerians in 2022 after Emirates suspended flights due to an inability to repatriate funds from the country.
Adnan Kazim, Emirates' deputy president and chief commercial officer, expressed enthusiasm about resuming services to Nigeria and thanked the Nigerian government for their partnership and support. With the resumption of operations, Emirates will operate 19 gateways in Africa, including 157 flights per week from Dubai, and an average of 26 daily departures to Africa in November. Emirates SkyCargo will also support Nigerian businesses by offering over 300 tonnes of bellyhold cargo capacity in and out of Lagos every week.
In other news, Nigeria's newest international airport, the Chuba Okadigbo International Airport in Ebonyi State, is set to commence operations in May 2024 following the completion of runway rehabilitation.
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Enugu Airport to reopen in April 2025
The Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu State, Nigeria, will resume flight operations on Monday, April 28, 2025. The airport was closed for seven days to allow for urgent repair work to be carried out on its runway.
The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Obiageli Orah, confirmed the reopening. In a statement, she said:
> "The work was scheduled to begin on April 22 and conclude before reopening on May 6, 2025. However, rehabilitation works on the runway have been completed, and the runway is cleared for landings and takeoffs by the engineers working with FAAN. The authority sincerely apologises for the inconvenience but assures the public that all actions were taken in the interest of safety."
The repairs were triggered by a sudden rupture in the asphalt surface of a critical section of the runway, which raised serious safety concerns. The Nigerian government had approved a N10 billion budget in 2019 for the extension and rehabilitation of the airport's runway, with the contract awarded to PW Construction Company.
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Construction of air cargo terminal to resume in 2015
In 2015, the Nigerian government announced that construction work on a major air cargo terminal would resume. The project, Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, is located in Owerri, the capital city of Imo State in the southeastern part of Nigeria. The air cargo terminal is expected to boost economic activities in the South East geopolitical zone of the country and its neighbouring states.
The Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere, confirmed that the construction work on the cargo terminal's foundation had been completed. However, the project was awaiting the arrival of its imported superstructure, which was expected to land in the country within weeks. The State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, conducted an inspection tour of the project site.
The President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, issued a statement expressing his desire for the early completion of the project to boost the economic development of the nation, particularly in the South East geopolitical zone. As part of the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON), the airport underwent upgrading between 2013 and 2014, which included improvements to physical infrastructure and communication equipment covering its airspace as far as Port Harcourt Airport and beyond.
In addition to the construction of the new cargo terminal, Nigeria has also been working on resuming operations at other airports. In May 2024, it was announced that the Chuba Okadigbo International Airport in Ebonyi State would commence operations following the completion of its runway rehabilitation, which cost ₦13 billion. The resumption of schedules for Emirates flights to Nigeria was also announced in May 2024, ending a close to two-year halt.
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Newest International Airport to open in May 2024
The Chuba Okadigbo International Airport in Ebonyi State, Nigeria, is set to commence operations in May 2024. The airport, which cost around ₦13 billion, will serve the city of Abakaliki and nearby cities such as Awka, Onitsha, and Nnewi. The inauguration of the airport was attended by former Nigerian presidents Obasanjo and Jonathan, alongside the newly sworn-in Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State.
The Chuba Okadigbo International Airport is one of 32 airports in Nigeria, with 26 of those operated by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). There are currently five functional international airports in the country, with the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja being the second busiest. The Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, Nigeria's most populous city, is the main base for the country's largest airline, Air Peace.
In recent years, the aviation industry in Nigeria has seen significant developments, with the rehabilitation of runways and improvements in airport infrastructure. The Enugu Airport, for example, underwent emergency runway repairs in April 2025, causing a temporary shutdown. The country has also attracted international airlines, with Dubai's Emirates airline resuming flight schedules to Nigeria in October 2024, after a two-year halt.
The opening of the Chuba Okadigbo International Airport in May 2024 will further enhance Nigeria's aviation network, providing improved connectivity and accessibility to the region.
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Frequently asked questions
The Chuba Okadigbo International Airport in Ebonyi State, Nigeria, is set to be completed and commence operations in May 2024.
Construction work on the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Imo State, Nigeria, was set to resume in October 2015. The airport was expected to be completed by 2016.
Emirates airline resumed flight schedules to Nigeria on October 1, 2024, after a nearly two-year halt.
Air Nigeria resumed its long-haul network in May 2012.
The Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, Nigeria, reopened on Monday, April 28, 2025, after emergency runway repairs were completed.
