Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo SAN, has officially inaugurated Enugu Air, a commercial airline owned by the Enugu State Government.
The inauguration ceremony took place at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, with the arrival of one of the three aircraft bearing the inscription “Enugu Air 5N-ENU” at exactly 12:27 p.m.
While addressing stakeholders and guests at the ceremony, the minister charged the management of Enugu Air to operate professionally, support private investment and avoid the pitfalls of bureaucracy.
“Support private investors, run it professionally. Do not let bureaucracy kill Enugu Air. Do not say my friends are coming; give them free tickets. There is nothing like a free ticket,” Keyamo stated.
He warned against running the airline like defunct Nigeria Airways, urging the operators to maintain strict standards in operations.
“Please do not allow this airline go down the ways of Nigeria Airways. Be brunt in your departure, be brunt in your arrival.”
To the Chief Executive Officer of Enugu Air, the minister emphasised the importance of merit and competence.
“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 operations from here to African States. Bring your letter tomorrow, and we will approve it.”
Keyamo also praised the proactive efforts of Governor Peter Mbah in making Enugu Air a reality.
“Governor Peter Mbah was the first governor that visit me immediately after I was sworn in as a Minister. He was coming to Abuja almost every week to press the button to make sure that a couple of things happened. When we told him the process of an 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 to start immediately. So, he approached XE Jet, we approved it, and all of a sudden, he went round, acquired the aircraft and here is the spirit. You have done well for Enugu State. You are one of the best performing governors,” the minister added.
Speaking during the inauguration, Governor Peter Mbah described the airline’s launch as a mid-term gift to the people of Enugu State.
He extended appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo SAN, the DG of NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo, the MD of NAMA, Ahmed Umar Farouk and the MD of FAAN, Mrs Bunmi Kuku, for their strong backing.
“Our chosen operator, XEJet Airlines, is a 100 per cent Nigerian-owned entity with a solid record of reliable, sustainable and successful aviation operations,” the governor said.
He further highlighted the impact of the airline, saying, “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 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.”
He concluded by affirming plans for future expansion.
“In the next phase, we will fly beyond Nigeria into other African countries, China, Europe, the UK, the US and other global business hubs.”
Signed
Bonaventure Ngwu
Head of Communications
FIC Enugu
