The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, says Nigeria is negotiating direct cargo flight operations between China and the South-east through Enugu, with plans to begin operations before the end of the year.
Mr Keyamo spoke on Thursday during the unveiling of two Boeing 737-800 aircraft acquired by United Nigeria Airlines.
“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,” he said.
He noted that the plan aims to improve trade logistics and strengthen commercial activities in the region.
Mr Keyamo said the Enugu International Airport is being repositioned as a cargo hub for the South-east under a new operational framework that involves private-sector participation.
“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 explained.
“As I speak with you, Enugu airport is now fully privately owned and run under the direction of the state government, with the clear objective of turning it into a dedicated cargo hub for the entire South-east,” he added.
