Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has hailed Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State as Uyo Airport commenced its first international flight operations, describing the facility as Nigeria’s first true state-owned transit hub.
Speaking exclusively to ARISE News after touchdown in Accra from the upgraded Victor Attah International Airport Uyo, Keyamo said the development marks a defining milestone capable of reshaping the economic and tourism landscape of the state.
He noted that the achievement represents the culmination of a journey that began nearly three decades ago.
“The Lord has made it for Akwa Ibom State. The journey that started 27 years ago has culminated in this very momentous event,” he said.
Keyamo stressed that the Akwa Ibom aviation facility stands out among sub-national airports in Nigeria, as it goes beyond a conventional terminal to function as a full transit hub.
“In terms of sub-nationals, this is the only one that has a true transit hub. It is not just a terminal we commissioned today. A terminal is where people just fly in, process themselves and go into the city.
“A true hub is where you can process yourself from an international flight arriving into another international flight departing, or you arrive by domestic flight and process yourself without entering the city,” he explained.
He added that the facility allows seamless international connections without requiring passengers to formally enter the country, a feature he said distinguishes it from other state-owned airports.
“All the state airports in the whole country—there is no transit hub. This is the only one, so there is no comparison,” he said.
The minister said the commencement of international operations would significantly boost tourism, trade, and investment in Akwa Ibom, positioning the state as a major aviation and economic hub.
“It will open up, it will engender tourism, commercial activities, trade and investment,” he stated.
Keyamo also highlighted the rigorous requirements needed to attain international airport status, noting that beyond naming, such facilities must integrate critical agencies including Customs, Immigration, NDLEA, and DSS, alongside advanced infrastructure and networked systems.
“You must have all of the agencies and the infrastructure. Their systems must be integrated with other entry points across the country,” he said.
On concerns about competition among airports, the minister dismissed fears of overlapping passenger traffic, insisting that aviation infrastructure itself drives economic activity.
“It is the airport itself that generates the economic activity. It is not the other way around,” he said.
He projected that the new status of the airport would attract significant private investment, including hotels, tourism centres, and other commercial developments around the facility.
“I told the governor, you will be embarrassed by the kind of pressure you will see from private investors in the next three to five years,” he added.
Keyamo further encouraged the state to prioritise regional routes, particularly to Central African destinations such as Douala in Cameroon, to maximise the airport’s potential as a regional hub.
Demola Ojo
