Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo, Monday, 7th July 2025, inaugurated the Enugu state -owned commercial airline ,”Enugu Air”, with a charge on the management of the Airline to run the Airline professionally, embrace Public private partnership, adding that they should not allow bureaucracy to kill Enugu Air.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony which witnessed the arrival of one of the three Enugu state-owned Aircrafts which touched the runway of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport ,Enugu at 12:27 pm , with the inscription, Enugu Air 5N- ENU, the minister advised the operators saying, , ” support private investors, run it professionally. Do not let bureaucracy bureaucracy to kill Enugu Air. Do not say my friends are coming , give them free tickets. There is nothing like free ticket
“Please do not allow this airline go down the ways of Nigeria Airways. Run it professionally. Do not allow bureaucracy to kill Enugu Air. Be brunt in your departure, be brunt in your arrival.
To the CEO of Enugu Air, he said, ” run it professionally. Do not employ favouritism. Enugu people, if you want it to survive, support the airline. It has been made available. Enugu will be a bigger international hub now and we are going to approve regional operation from here to African States. Bring your letter tomorrow we will approve it”.
Giving a brief information about the journey to getting the airline in place successfully, the minister said :
“Governor Peter Mbah was the first governor that visited me immediately I was sworn in as a Minister.. Dr. Peter Mbah was coming to Abuja almost every week to press the button to make sure that a couple of things happened So, when we told him the process of an AOC, because before you start an airline, you must have an Air Operating Certificate, AOC. Sometimes it gets two years to get your own AOC to operate , to start an airline because you have to go through so many procedures to get your own AOC.
“He said no, I will not wait for two years. I will go and partner with someone who already has an AOC to enable us start immediately. I said ok, if that is what you want to do, we will support you because it is part of our rules that you can partner with anybody to start an airline with anybody with an existing AOC. So, he approached XE Jet, we approved it and all of a sudden he went round, acquired the aircrafts and here is the spirit and you have done well for Enugu State. You are one of the best performing governors, “Keyamo said.
In his speech, the Governor of Enugu state, Dr. Peter Mbah said the launch of Enugu Air’s inaugural flight feels like a fitting mid-term gift to Ndi Enugu.
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for his support, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, the DG of NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo, the MD/CEO of NAMA Ahmed Umar Farouk, and the MD of FAAN Mrs Bunmi Kuku, for their remarkable support.
Speaking about the partners, Gov Mbah sard:
“Our chosen operator, XEJet Airlines, is a 100% Nigerian-owned entity with a solid record of reliable, sustainable, and successful aviation operations.
“We are doing this for very specific reasons:For our young people, who will now see real career paths in aviation, logistics, tourism, and hospitality.For our business community, who need faster, more reliable access to markets, clients, and capital.For our diaspora, who deserve simpler, more dignified access to home.For global investors, who will now see Enugu not as a hidden gem, but as a ready gateway to collaboration and opportunity.
“This is more than just infrastructure. It is an economic enabler, a job creator and a strategic platform for Enugu’s emergence as a regional hub for the South East, Nigeria and beyond.We’re starting off with three Embraer aircraft – efficient elegant birds made for our terrain. Our routes begin with a powerful golden triangle: Enugu to Abuja to Lagos. From there, we stretch our wings to Port Harcourt, Owerri, Benin, Kano, and across various other cities.But we are not stopping there.”,
” In the next phase, we will fly beyond Nigeria, into other African countries, China, Europe, UK, US, and other global business hubs.
“This transportation revolution is creating numerous opportunities: from bus drivers to technicians, logistics workers.We are building an entire ecosystem that will create over 20,000 jobs across BRT, 2,000 hybrid city taxis, airport operations, ride-hailing and support fservices. A people as gifted, resourceful, and resilient as ours deserve a system that works – and moves” Gov Mbah said.
In his speech, the Chief Executive Officer, Enugu Air,Emmanuel Ayuba Isa , said the launch was made possible through a strategic technical partnership with XEJet, which will span 24 months, during which Enugu Air will operate under XEJet’s guidance while working to secure all regulatory licenses required to obtain its own Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC).Our mission with Enugu Air goes beyond air travel. It is about building a brand that reflects the spirit of its people, resilient, proud, capable, and ready to soar.
He said they had employed their first indigenous pilot, Kelechii Ossai and trained him to join through cockpit crew. He added that their cabin crew members have been selected from across Enugu, trained to deliver world-class service while embodying the warmth, elegance, and cultural richness that define this state and in a first for Nigeria, with boarding and welcome announcements offered in both English and Igbo, ensuring that every flight proudly carries the voice and identity of our people.
“This is not a token gesture, it is a commitment to representation. To seeing our people not only onboard, but leading, serving, and defining what excellence looks like in the skies.We are creating something that is globally ambitious, yet deeply local. Enugu Air is built to fly far but it will always fly from the heart.”, he said.
ISA thanked Governor Mbah for his .visionary leadership and the Minister, Festus Keyamo for his support of homegrown aviation .
Earlier, Enugu State Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Obi Ozor, thanked Governor Mbah for his support to the transport sector. He assured that Enugu Air would live up to its dream.
The Managing Director of Fidelity Bank PLC, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, in a goodwill message described Governor Mbah as a visionary leader and assured the state of a continued partnership to actualize this dreams for the state
The event was witnessed people from different walks of life including the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev (Dr.) Callistus Onaga, and Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Uchenna Ugwu among others
Author: Maureen Ikpeama
