Nigeria targets December for direct China-Enugu cargo flights

Nigeria is actively pursuing direct cargo flight operations between China and the southeastern city of Enugu, with the aim of launching the service by December. Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo announced the initiative, emphasizing its potential to streamline trade for merchants and traders in China who can now consolidate goods for direct delivery to hubs like Onitsha and Aba.

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Just two days ago, the Enugu governor and I were actively negotiating the first direct cargo flight from Guangzhou, China, straight into Enugu. We are targeting December for the maiden flight. This will allow our Southeast merchants and traders in China to consolidate their goods into unified cargo accounts twice a week, flying straight into Enugu for seamless delivery to hubs like Onitsha and Aba.

The Enugu International Airport is undergoing a transformation into a dedicated cargo hub for the South-east. This strategic repositioning involves private sector participation and is driven by the state government's objective to maximize the airport's economic potential, moving beyond standard bureaucratic structures.

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One of our prides in the South is the Enugu International Airport. The Enugu governor approached Mr President, noting that the airport was not maximising its economic potential under standard bureaucratic structures, and requested to bring in private investors to run it. Mr President gave the green light.

In parallel, construction on the runway of the Abia State International Airport in Umuahia is in its advanced stages. Initially a basic airstrip, the project has been expanded into a full international airport with federal approval and substantial state funding. Governor Alex Otti's administration has significantly increased its financial commitment, reportedly injecting counterpart funding ahead of federal allocations, to accelerate the project's completion.

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As I speak with you, Enugu airport is now fully privately owned and run under the direction of the state government, with the clear objective of turning it into a dedicated cargo hub for the entire South-east.