Enugu Targets $30bn Economy by 2031 as Enugu Air and Airport Concession Set to Transform South-East Into Economic Powerhouse

Enugu Targets $30bn Economy by 2031 as Enugu Air and Airport Concession Set to Transform South-East Into Economic Powerhouse

June 16, 2026

The Enugu State Government has unveiled an ambitious economic transformation agenda that places the newly established Enugu Air and the concession of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport at the heart of its drive to expand the state's economy from $4.4 billion to an unprecedented $30 billion by 2031.

State authorities say the twin projects will not only revolutionise air transportation in the South-East but also unlock massive opportunities in tourism, agriculture, trade, hospitality, and foreign investment, ultimately positioning Enugu as one of Nigeria's leading economic destinations.

The Secretary to the State Government, Chidiebere Onyia, disclosed this during the Renewed Hope Media Tour of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu on Tuesday.

According to Onyia, Governor Peter Mbah's administration has adopted a comprehensive economic strategy that leverages aviation as a catalyst for sustainable growth and regional development.

He explained that the airport concession project extends beyond infrastructure development and is part of a broader vision to transform Enugu into a thriving economic hub for the entire South-East region.

"Under this government, Governor Peter Mbah, working in alignment with the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, approached the aviation sector with a clear objective of concessioning this international airport to support a larger vision for aviation, tourism, and economic development in Enugu State," Onyia said.

He noted that the government had carefully studied the economic potential of the aviation sector and developed projections around visitor traffic and the resulting impact on the state's Gross Domestic Product.

According to him, the administration is targeting between three and five million visitors annually, a figure expected to significantly boost commercial activities across multiple sectors.

"The projections were not arbitrary. We studied how aviation could complement our tourism and hospitality sectors and how investments in these industries could accelerate economic growth. Our goal from the beginning was to move Enugu's GDP from the $4.4 billion we inherited to $30 billion by 2031," he stated.

Onyia revealed that the creation of Enugu Air was born out of the need to ensure seamless access to the state without relying entirely on external commercial airlines.

He explained that depending solely on third-party carriers could limit the state's ability to meet its ambitious tourism and investment targets.

"If we are expecting millions of visitors, we cannot depend entirely on airlines operating their own schedules. That was the rationale behind Enugu Air. Today, we already have six aircraft, and this is only the first phase of operations aimed at bringing people into Enugu efficiently," he said.

He added that the state is building an integrated ecosystem where tourists, investors, and business travellers can easily access the state and enjoy world-class experiences.

The government also plans to revitalise numerous tourist attractions across the state to create compelling destinations for visitors.

Among the projects are upgrades to popular tourism sites, including waterfalls and cultural centres, aimed at strengthening Enugu's appeal as a tourism destination.

"People coming to Enugu for tourism must have places to visit. That's why we're investing heavily in developing and revitalising our tourism assets across the state," Onyia said.

Industry experts believe that improved accessibility through aviation, combined with enhanced tourist destinations, could significantly increase domestic and international visitor arrivals.

Beyond tourism, the airport infrastructure is also expected to play a major role in advancing Enugu's agricultural agenda.

The state government plans to develop cargo terminals that will facilitate the export of agricultural products and support supply chains across the country and beyond.

"This airport will become a major cargo hub where goods can move in and out of the state seamlessly. It aligns perfectly with our agricultural investment plans and reinforces Enugu's position as the economic capital of the South-East," Onyia explained.

The SSG emphasised that the state government deliberately adopted a private sector-driven approach to avoid the inefficiencies often associated with government-run enterprises.

According to him, strategic partnerships were established to build capacity and ensure long-term sustainability.

"We did not want government to operate in areas where it may not have sufficient competence. That was why we partnered with EasyJet to build capacity and eventually transitioned Enugu Air into a professionally managed private sector business with an independent governance structure and experienced professionals on its board," he said.

Providing updates on the airport concession process, Onyia disclosed that October 2026 had been set as the timeline for the next phase of implementation.

He said the latest media tour marked one of the key milestones in the project execution timeline.

"Today's activity signifies that the concessionaire and its contractors can now move into the site and begin actual work. This administration is committed to timelines and measurable deliverables every quarter," he stated.

Onyia also credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for providing the political backing that made the project possible.

According to him, previous administrations had left similar plans on paper, but Tinubu's intervention accelerated approvals and implementation.

"Without the President's vision and support, this project may have remained on the drawing board. He gave clear directives and ensured all relevant agencies worked together to fast-track the process while maintaining due process," Onyia said.

He further commended the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, for supporting the initiative and ensuring that regulatory procedures were completed.

The media tour was organised by the Presidential Communications Team under the Renewed Hope Agenda to showcase major infrastructure projects being implemented nationwide.

In January, Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo signed a concession agreement with Aero Alliance for the operation of Akanu Ibiam International Airport after the Federal Executive Council approved the proposal in July 2025.

Despite public concerns surrounding the concession arrangement, the Federal Government clarified that ownership of the airport remains fully under government control.

Under the agreement, the private concessionaire will be responsible for operating, maintaining, and upgrading the airport to improve efficiency, strengthen regional connectivity, and attract investments into the aviation sector.

With aviation, tourism, agriculture and private investment now converging under a single economic blueprint, Enugu State is betting heavily on infrastructure-driven development to transform itself into one of Africa's fastest-growing regional economies by the end of the decade.