From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
Wilberforce Chuba Okadigbo airport, Ebonyi State, has commenced commercial flight operations.
Commissioner for Aviation and Transport Technology, Mrs. Ngozi Obichukwu, revealed that United Nigeria Airlines would commence scheduled commercial flights from June 13, offering routes from Onueke to Abuja and Lagos.
The commissioner added that operations would initially run twice a week; Abuja flights on Mondays and Lagos flights on Fridays.
“Our Governor, Francis Ogbonnaya Nwifuru, has made air travel affordable by subsidising ticket prices to a flat rate of N100,000 for both Lagos and Abuja routes, less than half the typical fare.
“It is a strategic move to celebrate the achievements of this two-year old administration that has accomplished more than many would expect in two decades.”
She emphasised that Ebonyi State was set to leverage the airport’s cargo facilities for international export of agricultural produce and solid minerals, including yams, rice, cassava, salt and limestone.
“We are in talks with partners from Dubai and Canada to establish cargo flight arrangements. Ebonyi is ready for global trade,” she said.
She noted that the airport, which was initially inaugurated in 2023, experienced a temporary suspension of operations after regulatory agencies flagged issues with the runway. The runway has since been upgraded from concrete to asphalt following recommendations from aviation regulators.
“Today, those who once criticised our runway are now the ones applauding it. We’ve earned their confidence,” she added.
The commissioner lauded the aviation agencies, including Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), for their guidance and confirmed that all operations remained under regulatory compliance. She revealed that the airport’s digital booking platform is currently 80 percent complete and expected to go live by October, allowing global access to its services.
Obichukwu encouraged citizens to take advantage of the subsidised fares and avoid last-minute travel plans.
“This is a rare opportunity. The Friday Abuja flight is already nearly full. It is strictly first come, first served. This airport is not just for transport. It’s a gateway to transformation. Ebonyi is no longer a question mark on the development map, we are a bold exclamation.”