The Ebonyi State Government has renewed efforts to begin scheduled commercial flights at Chuba Okadigbo International Airport, Onueke, after officials assessed outstanding construction, maintenance and regulatory requirements at the facility on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.
Commissioner for Transport and Aviation, Collins Igboke, said the airport is about 90 per cent complete and that the state is working to resolve the remaining issues before commercial operations begin. He spoke after an inspection involving state officials and aviation stakeholders.
The government is also pursuing the acquisition of aircraft to support operations at the airport, while officials said regulatory approvals must be completed before scheduled passenger services can begin.
The latest push comes more than three years after the airport was commissioned and follows previous efforts to establish regular commercial connections to Ebonyi.
The inspection team found that the airport still requires remedial work despite the government’s assessment that the overall project is largely complete.
Officials identified damage associated with heavy rainfall as well as areas affected by vandalism. The state government said it plans to compile a detailed inventory of outstanding work and prioritise the repairs required before full operations.
Igboke said the assessment would enable the administration of Governor Francis Nwifuru to determine the interventions necessary to move the airport towards full commercial service.
The state government’s immediate priorities include:
- Completing outstanding infrastructure work;
- Repairing facilities affected by rain and environmental damage;
- Addressing areas damaged by vandalism;
- Completing regulatory requirements;
- Preparing for scheduled passenger operations; and
- Acquiring aircraft for the planned state-backed aviation operation.
The government has also indicated that operating the airport could contribute to Ebonyi’s internally generated revenue by attracting passengers, businesses and investment.
Aircraft availability is central to Ebonyi’s plan to establish regular services from the airport.
The state’s 2024 budget implementation report recorded plans to acquire three aircraft for the Chuba Okadigbo International Airport.
Ebonyi’s procurement records also show that the state advertised for the acquisition of three Embraer ERJ 190-100 aircraft for the airport in 2024. The procurement entry is listed as closed and awaiting evaluation.
The state’s PPP manual subsequently stated that Ebonyi had announced an action plan to procure three aircraft and had made an initial payment, with inspection of the aircraft planned as part of the process.
This history shows that the aircraft plan predates the latest inspection, although the government has yet to provide a firm public date for when the aircraft will enter commercial service.
While the state government is eager to commence flights, officials acknowledge that infrastructure completion alone will not allow the airport to handle scheduled commercial traffic.
Anazo Kalu, the airport’s general manager, said the facility’s air traffic control equipment and elevators are operational, while a temporary control tower is being used for interim services.
He said the next major step would be a final verification by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), followed by the acquisition of an Aerodrome Certificate.
That certification is particularly important because scheduled passenger, cargo, baggage and mail operations require compliance with applicable aviation safety and operational standards.
The regulatory process therefore remains one of the critical milestones between the government’s current preparations and the airport’s full commercial launch.
The latest announcement is not the first time Ebonyi has set its sights on commercial operations.
In June 2025, the state government announced that United Nigeria Airlines would begin scheduled flights between Onueke and Abuja on June 13, followed by Lagos services from June 18. At the time, the Ministry of Aviation and Transport Technology said operations would initially run on selected days while regulatory processes continued.
The airport’s development has therefore involved repeated attempts to transition from infrastructure development to sustainable scheduled operations.
Ebonyi’s PPP documentation says the airport was yet to fully commence operations, although limited services had been taking place. The same document describes the facility as having a runway of about four kilometres and says the project involved a terminal building, multi-storey car park and apron.
If the latest plan succeeds, regular flights could improve Ebonyi’s connections with Lagos, Abuja and other major economic centres.
The state government views the airport as more than a transport facility, arguing that its operation could support investment, tourism and revenue generation.
However, establishing an airport does not automatically guarantee a viable airline market. Sustained operations would depend on passenger demand, competitive fares, reliable schedules, aircraft availability, maintenance capacity and compliance with aviation regulations.
For Ebonyi, the immediate challenge is therefore to convert the airport from a largely completed infrastructure project into a functioning commercial aviation hub.
The government now has to complete the remaining physical works, secure the required regulatory certification and resolve the aircraft acquisition process before scheduled passenger flights can begin.
The success of those steps will determine whether Ebonyi Airport can finally move from repeated launch plans to dependable commercial service.
