The Federal Government has announced the temporary closure of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, for urgent repairs on its runway. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said the airport will be shut down from Monday, April 22 to Tuesday, May 6, 2025.
This move comes after a major rupture was discovered on a critical section of the airport’s runway, raising serious safety concerns for flight operations. According to a statement released by FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs. Obiageli Orah, the damage was significant enough to warrant immediate action.
“In compliance with Nigerian Civil Aviation regulations, and in line with our commitment to passenger safety, we have taken the difficult decision to close the runway for emergency repairs,” Mrs. Orah stated.
The shutdown means that no flight operations — take-offs or landings — will be allowed at the airport throughout the two-week period. All flights that were scheduled to operate at the Enugu airport will be redirected to nearby airports, including Asaba and Owerri.
FAAN expressed regret over the short notice of the closure, asking travellers and stakeholders for patience and understanding during the rehabilitation work.
The closure of the airport comes shortly after Nigeria’s largest airline, Air Peace, suspended its flights to Enugu. The airline raised alarm over the poor state of the runway, saying it had disrupted its operations and posed risks to flight safety.
In a statement signed by its Head of Corporate Communications, Dr. Ejike Ndiulo, Air Peace said:
“We regret to inform you that all flights scheduled to Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, are temporarily suspended due to safety concerns.”
Dr. Ndiulo explained that the condition of the runway had become increasingly worrisome and was affecting the airline’s ability to maintain reliable and safe operations. He said the airline decided to act in the interest of passengers and crew.
“We believe that if flights are not operated into this aerodrome for the next few days, it will allow FAAN the opportunity to perform the necessary repairs on the runway,” the statement added.
All Air Peace flights that were supposed to go to or depart from Enugu will now operate from the Asaba Airport, which is located in neighbouring Delta State. The airline apologised to passengers for the inconvenience and promised to resume operations once the runway repairs are completed.
Following the closure announcement, Ibom Air also confirmed that it would suspend all its flights to and from Enugu during the affected period. In a public notice issued on Saturday, the airline assured passengers that its Customer Contact Centre would reach out to those already booked on affected flights.
The airline advised passengers to explore alternative travel options via its counters in Lagos, Abuja, or Enugu.
“We regret the inconvenience the disruption may cause to our valued customers, but the safety of our passengers remains our top priority,” Ibom Air stated.
Akanu Ibiam International Airport is a major gateway in the South-East region of Nigeria. It serves thousands of passengers weekly, providing both domestic and international flights. The airport is particularly important to the people of Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, and parts of Abia and Imo States.
This is not the first time the airport has been closed for runway repairs. In August 2019, the Federal Government shut it down for similar reasons, citing poor runway conditions. It was later reopened in 2020 after a series of upgrades, including runway expansion and installation of modern lighting systems.
However, the recurrence of safety issues has raised questions about the quality of maintenance work and the long-term sustainability of infrastructure at the airport.
The sudden closure of the airport has caused concern among travellers, many of whom were already booked to fly in and out of Enugu during the affected period. Some passengers took to social media to express frustration over the late notice, saying it disrupted their plans and would increase travel costs.
“I was supposed to attend a wedding in Enugu next weekend. Now I have to fly to Asaba and take a long road trip. This is stressful,” one Twitter user posted.
Others, however, welcomed the move, saying safety should always come first. “It’s better to repair the runway now than risk a disaster. Let FAAN fix it properly this time,” another user wrote.
Aviation experts have called on the Federal Government and FAAN to prioritise regular maintenance of airport infrastructure across the country. They say recurring issues like this one could harm Nigeria’s reputation in the global aviation sector and reduce investor confidence.
Passengers who have booked flights to Enugu between April 22 and May 6 are advised to contact their airlines for updates and rebooking. Most airlines have promised to assist with changes and provide alternative arrangements.
FAAN, meanwhile, has pledged to work round the clock to ensure that the runway rehabilitation is completed within the scheduled timeframe so that normal operations can resume by May 6.
