The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has officially issued an Air Operator Certificate to Enugu Air, the state-owned carrier, marking a milestone in Governor Peter Mbah’s bid to transform Enugu State into a regional aviation and logistics hub.
The certification, presented on Tuesday at the NCAA headquarters in Abuja, was completed in five months and three weeks, according to a statement by the governor’s media office, a sharp contrast to the industry standard of 15 to 24 months.
Speaking during the presentation, the Director-General of the NCAA, Chris Najomo, described the speed of the certification as historic. He noted that Enugu Air distinguished itself by launching with a full fleet of six aircraft, a rare occurrence for new entrants in the Nigerian domestic market.
“The airline successfully navigated a rigorous evaluation across multiple departments.
“This confirms that Enugu Air has met all regulatory requirements and demonstrated full compliance with Nigeria’s aviation safety and operational standards,” Najomo said.
The DG attributed the project’s discipline to the leadership of Mbah and urged the airline’s management to maintain high safety standards.
The Accountable Manager and Chief Executive Officer of Enugu Air, Tolu Ita, credited the state government for creating an enabling environment. She reaffirmed the carrier’s commitment to building a “reliable, efficient, and globally competitive” airline.
Providing further insight into the airline’s roadmap, the Enugu State Commissioner for Transportation, Obi Ozor, revealed plans to scale the fleet to 20 aircraft.
“Enugu Air is a strategic component of the broader transport and logistics transformation aimed at unlocking economic opportunities.
“We are targeting the commencement of regional operations before the end of 2026 to connect Enugu to key international markets,” Ozor stated.
The commissioner also acknowledged the role of XEJet Limited, the airline’s operating partner, in navigating the regulatory hurdles.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of XEJet, Emmanuel Iza, described the milestone as a testament to the power of public-private partnerships in the aviation sector.
Similarly, the Board Chairman of Enugu Air, Ricky Agu, assured the regulator of the state’s continued support to ensure world-class operations.
The event was attended by senior aviation regulators and a high-level delegation from Enugu State, including the Special Assistant to the Governor on Transport, Iphie Ugonabo.
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