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The dream of turning Enugu State into the cargo and logistics hub of the South-East received a major boost on August 21, 2025, when the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced that direct cargo flights from China to Enugu could begin before the end of the year.
Speaking during the unveiling of newly acquired aircraft by United Nigeria Airlines, Keyamo disclosed that discussions were already at an advanced stage between the Federal Government and the Enugu State Government to establish direct cargo flight operations between Guangzhou, China, and Enugu.
According to him, “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 minister added that the project would significantly improve trade logistics, reduce the time spent transporting imported goods and strengthen commercial activities across the South-East. He also revealed that the airport was being repositioned as a dedicated cargo hub under a new management structure designed to attract private investment and improve efficiency.
Keyamo further explained that Governor Peter Mbah approached President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with a proposal that the airport should be managed differently in order to unlock its economic potential.
“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,” Keyamo stated.
Governor Peter Mbah has repeatedly expressed confidence that the cargo Airport project would become a reality. According to him, “Our Airport will soon become operational. That way, we can move cargo from Enugu across the entire world. What that means is that our tech-enabled logistics and trading dream will come true to every Igbo businessman.”
What many people do not know is that the Cargo Airport project is not an entirely new airport being built somewhere else in Enugu State. Rather, it is an extensive cargo and logistics development centered around the existing Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Emene.
For years, Enugu residents heard promises about cargo operations at the Airport, but little progress was made. That began to change shortly after Gov. Mbah assumed office in May 2023. One of the governor’s earliest economic priorities was transforming the Airport into a facility capable of handling international cargo movements.
In June 2023, shortly after taking office, the Enugu State Government and aviation authorities began discussions on completing the international terminal and developing a cargo terminal at Akanu Ibiam International Airport. Officials toured the airport and identified sites for the cargo facilities, while both governments pledged collaboration to make the project a reality. A few months later, Mbah publicly appealed for federal support to accelerate the cargo terminal project and complete the international wing of the airport. By 2025, the governor was already expressing confidence that the cargo terminal would soon become operational.
“Our airport will soon become operational. That way, we can move cargo from Enugu across the entire world. What that means is that our tech-enabled logistics and trading dream will come true to every Igbo businessman,” Mbah said.
Those comments now appear to be gradually becoming reality.
Today, discussions are no longer about whether the cargo project will happen but about when the first cargo aircraft will arrive.
Many aviation observers believe the December target is ambitious but achievable. The reason is simple. The cargo initiative is not starting from scratch. The runway already exists. The airport already handles passenger traffic. International certification efforts have advanced considerably and the airport infrastructure has continued to improve. The remaining work largely involves completing cargo handling facilities, logistics systems, warehousing arrangements and securing regulatory approvals for scheduled cargo operations.
The fact that both the Federal Government and the Enugu State Government are publicly discussing a December 2026 launch suggests that substantial groundwork has already been completed behind the scenes.
For traders in Onitsha, Aba, Nnewi, Enugu and other commercial centers across the South-East, the implications could be enormous.
Currently, many importers depend on Lagos ports and airports before transporting goods over long distances to the South-East. Direct cargo flights into Enugu could reduce transportation costs, shorten delivery times and make business operations more efficient.
The project is also expected to support exports. Agricultural products, processed foods, pharmaceuticals and manufactured goods from the region could potentially be shipped directly to international markets through Enugu.
Beyond the cargo airport project, Mbah’s administration has embarked on an aggressive infrastructure and economic development drive since taking office in 2023.
His government has undertaken extensive road construction projects across urban and rural communities. Hundreds of kilometers of roads have either been completed or are under construction across the state. These roads connect markets, schools, hospitals and farming communities.
The administration has also focused heavily on education through the Smart Green Schools initiative, healthcare through the construction and upgrading of primary healthcare centers, and security through the deployment of technology-driven surveillance systems.
In Enugu metropolis, residents have witnessed the reconstruction of major roads, installation of modern traffic management infrastructure, urban renewal projects and beautification efforts aimed at making the state capital more attractive to investors.
The government has also invested heavily in technology, digital governance and investment promotion through the Enugu State Investment Development Authority, which has been actively courting foreign investors, including business interests in China. Analysts believe these investment drives helped lay the groundwork for the proposed China-Enugu cargo route.
Many residents who support the cargo airport initiative argue that it aligns perfectly with Gov. Mbah’s broader economic vision of making Enugu the premier destination for business, investment and logistics in southeastern Nigeria.
One question frequently asked by residents is whether a completely new cargo airport is being built somewhere else in Enugu State.
The answer, based on available information from government officials and aviation authorities, is no.
The cargo hub is being developed around the existing Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Emene. The project involves expanding and operationalising cargo handling facilities within the airport ecosystem rather than relocating operations to another site.
This distinction is important because many people mistakenly assume that a brand-new airport is under construction. What is actually happening is the transformation of an existing international airport into a specialized cargo gateway capable of serving not only Enugu but the entire South-East region.
If the December target is achieved, Enugu could become the first major cargo gateway in the region with direct links to one of the world’s biggest manufacturing centers, Guangzhou in China.
For a region known for commerce, manufacturing and entrepreneurship, that development could prove to be one of the most significant economic milestones in recent years.
Whether the first aircraft touches down in December or shortly thereafter, one thing is already clear: the vision of a cargo-driven airport in Enugu has moved beyond the planning stage and is now much closer to reality than many people realize. The Airport at Emene is no longer being viewed merely as a passenger facility. It is increasingly being positioned as the logistics engine that could connect the South-East directly to global markets.
By Benprince Ezeh
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