VAIA Is Best Airport In Nigeria – FG

… As Airport Commences Int’l Flights
…Gov Eno Announces Creation Of Aviation And Airport Development Ministry
By Ossom Asaka/Bassey Nkponam
UYO 
The Federal Government has described the Victor Attah International Airport (VAIA), Uyo, as the best airport in the country.
Minister of aviation and aerospace development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, stated this during a brief ceremony, which took place at the airport ground on Saturday, to launch the maiden international flight that departed the Victor Attah International Airport (VAIA), Uyo, to Accra, Ghana, noting that Akwa Ibom was gradually transforming into a Dubai in Nigeria, given its superlative infrastructural renaissance and the impact on the region and the country.
Keyamo, who expressed appreciation to the Akwa Ibom government for the achievement so far recorded in the aviation sector, maintained that the maiden international flight from Uyo to Accra in Ghana, operated by Ibom Air on Saturday, May 2, 2026, marks more than a historic aviation milestone, adding that it also signals the arrival of Akwa Ibom as a serious player in regional connectivity, trade, tourism and investment.
Keyamo described the VAIA as a pace setter in Nigeria’s aviation sector, and as a transit hub with huge impact on the economy of the State and country, and declared the VAIA as a “full international airport with the first international flight”, the minister said the airport was not just one of those airports, not just a terminal building, but a world-class transit hub with immense impact.
According to him, the kind of services provided by the VAIA do not exist in any sub-national anywhere in the country but only in the airport only, adding that the airport was  not just the best but the only existing one, and a pacesetter in the country.
“This Airport is not just one of those airports, not just a terminal building, but a world-class transit hub with immense impact. With this facility, passengers are afforded the opportunity of transferring their flights from international to international; domestic to international; and international to domestic.
“This kind of services do not exist in any sub-national anywhere in the country but only here in this airport. This is not just the best, it is the only existing one, a pacesetter in the country”, noting the massive and intense economic impact and ripple effects of the airport on the State and the country generally.
Keyamo commended the State governor, Pastor Umo Eno, for his rare commitment to completing the project and actualising the international status.
In his remarks, Governor Eno attributed the success of the heartwarming revolution of the VAIA to the visionary leadership of his predecessors, describing it as a relay race of impactful leadership.
“It was indeed a relay race of impactful leadership. From Obong Victor Attah, to Chief Godswill Akpabio, to Mr. Udom Emmanuel, and to me. They have individually contributed their own quotas in an exceptional way for our common good.
“This is the labour of our heroes past, and if God had not ordained it, we won’t be here today. I am privileged to be part of this dream and to bring the finisher’s anointing to this dream. When people ask, what will be your legacy?. My legacy will be that I serve Akwa Ibom people with all of my might. Legacy is not all about what you did, as to what you helped finished. 
“And for me, loyalty is not coming to somebody’s house everyday, and bowing down and pretending. Loyalty is to believe in what you believe in, and to carry on what you started. 
“Loyalty is to complete what you left undone because I believe in who started it, I believe in the work you have done for the benefit of Akwa Ibom people. Loyalty is action, loyalty is not words. 
“I may not have time to go round houses but I have time to concentrate on unfinished business, and this is one of those businesses. The Tropicana is another unfinished business. That’s my idea of loyalty that we believe in serving Akwa Ibom people. And any governor that God comes on board must have the interest of the people first, and then finish what the others could not finish.
“It is a relay race and I thank God that he has given me this privilege. This is my definition of loyalty. If this is not loyalty, then I don’t know what loyalty is”, he said.
Eno particularly thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his love, timely release of funds to the sub-nationals to enable them execute projects such as the Victor Attah International Airport – a world-class transit hub, and his efforts and approval that VAIA should have an international status.
He also appreciated Keyamo for his special interest and commitment towards the realisation of the international status of the airport.
Commissioner for finance and supervising commissioner for special duties, Mr Emem Bob, thanked the governor for his foresight and determination to get the airport upgraded to an international one, noting that his timely release of funds for the project has culminated to the attainment of the laudable feat as an international airport.
Speaking separately at the event, managing director of Ibom Airport Development Company Limited (IADCL), Mr Uwem Ekanem, an engineer; the chief executive officer of Ibom Air, Mr George Uriesi, an engineer; and the chairman of VKS – the company that handled the construction of the new terminal building, Mr Oliver Ebong, an engineer, commended Governor Eno for overcoming all challenges and pushing them positively to realise the maximum potential of the VAIA.
In a related development, Governor Umo Eno has announced the creation of a full Ministry of Aviation and Airport development in the state.
  The governor who made the announcement at the weekend, said he will search for a competent aviation professional to man the new ministry as commissioner.
  He directs the managing director of Ibom Airport Development Company to over the affairs of the new ministry in the interim even as he also directed the head of civil service to immediately post a permanent secretary to the new ministry.