Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has said the attainment of international status by the Victor Attah International Airport will improve regional connectivity and eliminate the stress of travelling outside Nigeria to access other countries within the West African sub-region.

Eno stated this while addressing journalists on Sunday after returning from the airport’s maiden international flight to Ghana.

The development marks a major milestone for the state-owned aviation facility, which recently secured approval from the Federal Government to commence international operations after years of infrastructure expansion and regulatory processes.

The Victor Attah International Airport, located in Uyo, was established during the administration of former Governor Victor Attah and has since undergone successive upgrades under different administrations, including the launch of Ibom Air in 2019.

Speaking on the significance of the international certification, Eno said the achievement would benefit not only Akwa Ibom State but also Nigeria and countries within the Gulf of Guinea region.

“We cannot succeed in tourism if we don’t have a functional airport, whether internationally or locally. Now, we have gone international, and through Akwa Ibom, we can travel to other countries in the sub-region without having to go out of Nigeria to overfly Nigeria to get to countries in the sub-region, as obtained before. That is one of the things the international flight has stopped immediately,” he said.

The governor added that Akwa Ibom was positioning itself as a destination for global conferences and tourism.

“Akwa Ibom will become another Kigali, with the international conference centre that is the best in the country yet; people will begin to have international conferences in Uyo,” he added.

Eno expressed optimism that the economic benefits for the Gulf of Guinea region would be enormous, adding that the state was also planning to establish a cargo terminal and trading route to enhance economic activities.

He announced the creation of a Ministry of Aviation and Airport Development and appointed the Managing Director of the Ibom Airport Development Company Limited, Engr Uwem Ekanem, to oversee the ministry pending the appointment of a substantive commissioner.

“I have directed the creation of the Ministry of Aviation and Airport Development, and Engr Uwem Ekanem will oversee the affairs of the ministry pending the appointment of a substantive Commissioner,” the governor said.

Eno also appreciated President Bola Tinubu for approving the airport’s designation as an international facility and commended the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, for coordinating aviation stakeholders and ensuring regulatory compliance leading to the successful commencement of international operations.

Tracing the evolution of the airport, the governor paid tribute to former governors Victor Attah, Godswill Akpabio and Udom Emmanuel for their contributions to the development of the aviation infrastructure.

He described leadership as a relay race in which successive administrations build on the achievements of their predecessors.

The governor further disclosed that Ibom Air would expand its fleet to 10 aircraft with the expected arrival of an additional Airbus in June.

He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to training indigenous aviation professionals, including pilots, engineers and airport personnel.

According to him, the state has sponsored the training of 20 pilots in Paris, including the co-pilot on the return flight from Accra, while 20 engineers are currently working at the airport.

He added that another 10 cadet pilots are undergoing training in Ethiopia, while three pilots and one engineer are enrolled at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology in Zaria.

Beyond pilots and engineers, Eno said the state also planned to train personnel in airport handling, facility management and maintenance operations.

The governor revealed that no fewer than 10 major projects were ongoing within the aviation ecosystem, including the construction of a second runway, apron expansion, aviation village, perimeter fencing, hospital and modern surveillance systems.

He clarified that the maiden international flight was not merely ceremonial but served as the validation and activation of the airport’s international certification, noting that scheduled international operations would begin after the completion of all regulatory procedures.

Speaking on the sustainability of Ibom Air, Eno said the state government was considering diversification strategies, disclosing plans to list the airline on the Nigerian Exchange in the future as part of moves towards privatisation.

He thanked stakeholders across the executive, legislative and judicial arms of government, as well as members of the aviation community, describing the achievement as a collective accomplishment and a major turning point in the state’s history.