
Sam Mbakwe International Airport (IATA: QOW, ICAO: DNIM) is located in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area, Imo State, Nigeria. The airport serves Owerri, the capital city of Imo State, and is named after Sam Mbakwe, the first civilian governor of Imo State, who initiated the project. It is the first state-owned airport in West Africa and was built with contributions from the indigenes of the state and the Igbo community.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport |
| IATA | QOW |
| ICAO | DNIM |
| Location | Ngor Okpala Local Government Area, Imo State, Nigeria |
| Served Cities | Owerri, Onitsha, Nnewi, Aba, Umuahia, Arochukwu, Okigwe, Oguta, Orlu |
| Airlines | Air Peace, Kuwait National Airways, United Nigeria Airlines, Val Air |
| Destinations | 2 |
| Weekly Departures | 26 (to Lagos) |
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What You'll Learn
- Sam Mbakwe International Airport is the only airport in Imo
- The airport is named after Sam Mbakwe, the first civilian governor of Imo State
- The airport is located in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area, Imo State
- The airport serves Owerri, the capital city of Imo State
- There are 4 airlines flying from Imo to 2 airports around the world

Sam Mbakwe International Airport is the only airport in Imo
Sam Mbakwe International Airport, also known as Imo State Airport, is the only airport in Imo, Nigeria. It is located in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area, Imo State, and serves Owerri, the capital city of Imo State in southeastern Nigeria.
The airport is named after Sam Mbakwe, the first civilian governor of Imo State, who initiated the project. Construction of the airport began during Mbakwe's administration in 1983, with generous contributions from the indigenes and people of the state, as well as throughout the Igbo land. It is the first state-owned airport and the first community-driven airport project known in West Africa.
The airport was completed and commissioned on July 15, 1994, under the leadership of Navy Captain James N.J. Aneke, the military administrator of Imo State at the time. It was then handed over to the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) for management by the federal government.
Sam Mbakwe International Airport is a smaller airport, with flights to two destinations and four airlines offering scheduled passenger traffic. The route with the most departures is to Lagos (LOS), with approximately 26 flights departing from Sam Mbakwe International Airport weekly. Air Peace is the largest airline operating from the airport, followed by United Nigeria Airlines. The aircraft types most commonly used for these flights are the Airbus A31X/32X and the Embraer ERJ14X/13X.
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The airport is named after Sam Mbakwe, the first civilian governor of Imo State
Imo State Airport, also known as Sam Mbakwe International Airport, is located in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area, Imo State, Nigeria. The airport serves Owerri, the capital city of Imo State in southeastern Nigeria. It is named after Sam Mbakwe, the first civilian governor of Imo State, who initiated the project. The airport is the first state-owned airport in the region and is also notable for being the first community-driven airport project in West Africa.
The idea for the airport was conceived and construction commenced during Dee Sam Mbakwe's administration as the first civilian governor of the old Imo State (which now comprises Imo, Abia, and Southern Ebonyi states) in 1983. The project was made possible by generous contributions from the indigenes and people of the state, as well as support from the entire Igbo land. The airport was completed and commissioned on July 15, 1994, under the leadership of Navy Captain James N.J. Aneke, the military administrator of Imo State at the time.
Sam Mbakwe International Airport (IATA: QOW, ICAO: DNIM) is a smaller airport that offers scheduled passenger traffic to two destinations through four airlines. While there are no known international flights from this airport, it serves several cities in addition to Owerri, including the commercial city of Onitsha and the industrial hub of Aba. The airport also provides service to some parts of Akwa Ibom and Cross River States in the southernmost region of Nigeria.
The airport is conveniently located in Imo State, making it the most accessible option for travellers flying from or to the region. As of April 2025, there were four airlines operating from Sam Mbakwe International Airport: Air Peace, Kuwait National Airways, United Nigeria Airlines, and Val Air. The route with the highest number of departures is the one to Lagos (LOS), with approximately 26 flights departing from Sam Mbakwe International Airport on a weekly basis.
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The airport is located in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area, Imo State
Imo State Airport, also known as Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, is located in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area, Imo State. The airport serves Owerri, the capital city of Imo State in southeastern Nigeria. It is the only airport in Imo State, and one of the few state-owned airports in the country.
The airport is named after Sam Mbakwe, the first civilian governor of Imo State, who initiated the project. Construction of the airport began in 1983 with generous contributions from the indigenes and people of the state, as well as support from the Igbo community. It was completed and commissioned by Navy Captain James N.J. Aneke on July 15, 1994, during his tenure as the military administrator of Imo State.
Sam Mbakwe International Airport (IATA: QOW, ICAO: DNIM) is a relatively small airport, with flights to just two destinations. These destinations are Lagos and Abuja, the latter of which is the longest flight route from the airport. Four airlines operate from the airport: Air Peace, Kuwait National Airways, United Nigeria Airlines, and Val Air.
The airport is conveniently located in Ngor Okpala, making it easily accessible to residents of Owerri and the surrounding areas. It also serves other cities in the region, including Onitsha, Nnewi, Aba, Umuahia, and Arochukwu. Additionally, it serves business districts within Imo State, such as Okigwe, Oguta, and Orlu.
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The airport serves Owerri, the capital city of Imo State
The Sam Mbakwe International Airport (IATA: QOW, ICAO: DNIM) serves Owerri, the capital city of Imo State in southeastern Nigeria. The airport is named after Sam Mbakwe, the first civilian governor of Imo State who initiated the project. Construction of the airport began in 1983 with generous contributions from the indigenes and people of the state and throughout the Igbo land. It is the first state-owned airport and the first community-driven airport project in West Africa.
The airport is located in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area, Imo State. It is the most convenient airport to fly from Imo and is served by four airlines: Air Peace, Kuwait National Airways, United Nigeria Airlines, and Val Air. The airport offers scheduled passenger traffic to two destinations, with the route to Lagos being the most popular, accounting for over 59% of all weekly departures.
In addition to Owerri, the airport also serves several other cities, including the commercial city of Onitsha, the manufacturing hub of Nnewi in Anambra State, and the industrial city of Aba. It also provides access to Umuahia and Arochukwu in Abia State, as well as Okigwe, Oguta, and Orlu business districts within Imo State. Parts of Akwa Ibom and Cross River States in southern Nigeria are also within its service area.
Sam Mbakwe International Airport is a smaller airport, and as far as is known, there are no international flights operating from there. However, it plays a vital role in connecting Owerri and the surrounding regions to the rest of Nigeria, facilitating travel, commerce, and economic activities for the area it serves.
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There are 4 airlines flying from Imo to 2 airports around the world
Sam Mbakwe International Airport (IATA: QOW, ICAO: DNIM), also known as Imo State Airport, is located in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area, Imo State, Nigeria. The airport serves Owerri, the capital city of Imo State in southeastern Nigeria, as well as other cities in the region. It is named after Sam Mbakwe, the first civilian governor of Imo State, who initiated the project.
As of April 2025, there are 4 airlines flying from Imo to 2 destinations worldwide. The airlines serving Imo State Airport include Air Peace, Kuwait National Airways, United Nigeria Airlines, and Val Air. The route with the most departures is the route to Lagos (LOS), with approximately 26 flights from Sam Mbakwe International Airport every week, accounting for over 59% of all weekly departures. Air Peace is the largest airline operating from the airport, with around 27 scheduled departures each week. The second-largest operator is United Nigeria Airlines.
The airport offers convenient connections to various parts of Nigeria, with the ability to fly to two destinations with four airlines. The airport is also known for being the first state-owned airport in Imo State and the first community-driven airport project in West Africa. The project was made possible through the contributions and support of the indigenes of the state and the entire Igbo land.
Sam Mbakwe International Airport primarily caters to domestic flights within Nigeria. While there are no known international flights from this airport, it still serves as a vital transportation hub for the region. The airport is managed by the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and provides essential connectivity for passengers travelling to and from Imo State and the surrounding areas.
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Frequently asked questions
Imo State Airport, also known as Sam Mbakwe International Airport, is located in Ngor Okpala, Imo State, Nigeria.
The airport code for Sam Mbakwe International Airport is QOW.
You can fly to two destinations from Imo State Airport: Lagos and Abuja.
There are four airlines that operate from Imo State Airport: Air Peace, Kuwait National Airways, United Nigeria Airlines, and Val Air.
The route with the longest flight time from Imo State Airport is to Abuja (ABV), which takes approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes.













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