The government of Ebonyi State in south-eastern Nigeria has disclosed plans to procure four aircraft for its own start-up airline to make optimal use of the new Chuba Okadigbo International Airport in the state capital, Abakiliki, according to several local news reports.
The plans were disclosed by Ebonyi's Commissioner for Aviation and Transport Technology, Ngozi Obichukwu, while inspecting the completed NGN20 billion naira (USD12.66 million) rehabilitation of the airport's 3.5-kilometre runway. She claimed investors stood ready to contribute three more aircraft, the Daily Post and Leadership newspapers reported.
Referring to Ibom Air (QI, Uyo), established by the Akwa Ibom state government in 2019 with two CRJ900s, Obichukwu said Ebonyi would avoid leasing and aimed to operate with 60-seater in-house aircraft. It also plans to operate cargo flights, she said.
"We will soon start floating our aircraft. When flight operations start at the airport, we have investors ready to give us an extra three planes. We have already entered into agreements with them, and very soon it will start happening," she claimed.
According to her, state governor Francis Nwifuru is committed to introducing Ebonyi's own fleet. She said the governor's vision was to establish the airport as a pivotal economic centre for Nigeria's Southeast region and to advance regional development through improved aviation infrastructure.
Obichukwu first revealed Ebonyi State's plans for its own airline in April when she inspected the asphalting of the runway. The airport is to become operational in August, reported Politics Nigeria and New Telegraph.
