Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah of Enugu State has earned high praise for the launch of Enugu Air, the first state-owned airline in the South East, with Chief Dr. Jerry Patrick Onuokaibe describing it as a game-changing development for the region’s economy and infrastructure.
Chief Onuokaibe, CEO of First Choice Afro Villa Ltd and Mburubu Construction Company Ltd, as well as the Igwe-elect of Mburubu Ancient Kingdom in Nkanu East Local Government Area, made this known on Monday in Enugu shortly after the official commissioning of Enugu Air while speaking with journalists.
He hailed the initiative as a bold and strategic move that marks a turning point in regional connectivity and economic planning.
“What Governor Mbah has done with Enugu Air is not just about flying aircraft—it’s about building bridges across economic zones, creating ease for investors, and redefining how people move, think, and plan in the South East,” Chief Onuokaibe stated.
He further commended the governor’s vision of kickstarting operations with three Embraer aircraft (E170 and E190 series), noting that the project directly addresses decades-old mobility challenges in the region.
“Before now, poor access to fast and reliable air travel was one of the bottlenecks investors raised when considering projects in the South East. That narrative has now changed. Enugu is now being repositioned not just as a state capital, but as a regional aviation and investment hub,” he added.
Chief Onuokaibe also highlighted the significance of the airline’s planned “golden triangle” routes that link Enugu with key Nigerian cities including Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Owerri, Benin, and Kano.
“The scope of this project shows deep strategic planning. With cities like Lagos, Abuja, and Kano in the flight matrix, the Governor has laid a new corridor for goods, services, and skilled labor to move seamlessly in and out of the South East,” he explained.
He stressed that the economic impact of Enugu Air would go beyond aviation, sparking growth across multiple sectors.
“This will spark ripple effects across various sectors—construction, hospitality, logistics, tech, even education. The more people and products we can move efficiently, the faster we grow. It will also inspire confidence in diaspora investors who now have easier access to their homeland,” Onuokaibe said.
He also commended the governor’s foresight in selecting aircraft specifically tailored for regional travel, noting that the Embraer jets reflect a practical understanding of the state’s infrastructure and market needs.
Calling on other leaders across the South East to emulate Governor Mbah’s visionary leadership, he stated: “Leadership is about solving real problems, and today, Governor Mbah has solved one that has lingered for decades.”
