The Federal Government has officially declared the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport in Minna, Niger State, as the designated alternative to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
This development was announced by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, during the inauguration of Overland Airways’ commercial flight operations from the Minna airport on Tuesday.
Keyamo stated that the Minna airport possesses the necessary infrastructure and international runway standards to support full-scale operations. “The runway is an international runway; a 747 and a triple seven can use this runway,” the minister said. “Why, over the years, this has been underutilised is still a puzzle.”
Emphasizing its strategic importance and operational readiness, Keyamo issued a formal directive: “By the powers conferred on me, I declare Minna Airport as the alternative to Abuja Airport. NCAA, FAAN, take note.”
According to the minister, the decision is expected to ease pressure on the Abuja airport and provide a crucial backup during emergencies, maintenance periods, or peak congestion. It also aims to boost aviation activity and economic prospects in Niger State and the northern region at large.
The declaration is seen as a significant policy shift in the country’s aviation landscape, with stakeholders hopeful that Minna Airport will now receive the attention and traffic its capacity merits.
Officials from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) were in attendance at the event and are expected to begin implementing the directive immediately.
