The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has announced that the newly flagged-off Abia International Airport will position Abia State as a commercial and industrial hub of the South-East region.
The minister made this known on Tuesday during the flag-off ceremony of the airport project at Nsulu, Abia State.
The Abia International Airport, an upgrade of an existing airstrip, is a collaborative effort between the federal government and the Abia State government. While the federal government initiated the project, the state government is contributing to the development through runway upgrades.
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Keyamo explained that the airport was part of President Bola Tinubu’s agenda to foster infrastructural development in the South-East. Recounting his discussions with the president, Keyamo said, “When I was briefing the president about the aviation sector, he asked me why Abia does not have at least an airstrip. He emphasized that no part of the country should be left behind, and in the South-East, it was only Abia State that lacked an operational landing facility.”
The minister further revealed that President Tinubu was deeply impressed with Governor Alex Otti’s leadership and commitment to the state’s development. According to him, Governor Otti’s proactive stance led to the decision to upgrade the airstrip into an international airport.
“When I broke the news to Dr. Alex Otti about the federal government’s plans for an airstrip, he said, ‘No, I will partner with you; I will put in counterpart funding and let us upgrade it to an international airport.’ This collaboration gave birth to this transformative project,” Keyamo stated.
Highlighting the strategic importance of the airport, Keyamo described Abia State as the “heart of industrialisation of the South-East” and emphasized its role as a future cargo and passenger airport. He pointed out that many of Nigeria’s renowned products originate from Abia State, adding that the new facility would facilitate the direct export of goods produced in the region.
“There is no reason we cannot manufacture and process goods here and export directly from Abia instead of taking them elsewhere for logistics purposes,” Keyamo said.
Addressing critics who question the viability of new airports, the minister underscored that airports are enablers of economic growth and social infrastructure. “What comes first— the chicken or the egg? It is the airports that generate economic activity. An airport in Abia State will unlock the state’s full economic potential as an industrial hub,” he explained.
Keyamo also stressed the critical role airports play in ensuring accessibility across the country, particularly during emergencies such as natural disasters.
“It was not good that Abia had been cut off from the aviation ecosystem of this country. An airport is not just an economic asset but a social necessity,” he concluded.
The Abia International Airport project represents a landmark development for the region and is expected to boost trade, industrialization, and connectivity, transforming Abia into a key player in Nigeria’s aviation and economic landscape.
