The Federal Government has officially designated the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport in Minna, Niger State, as an alternative to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. The announcement was made by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, during the launch of Overland Airways’ commercial flight operations at the Minna facility.
Keyamo praised the airport’s infrastructure, noting its capability to handle large aircraft such as Boeing 747 and 777 models. “It’s surprising that this airport, with its capacity and facilities, has remained underutilized for so long,” he said.
Declaring the airport fully compliant with international standards, Keyamo directed aviation agencies, including the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), to implement operational adjustments to support the new designation.
The move is expected to ease air traffic congestion in Abuja while boosting economic activities in Niger State and surrounding regions. Aviation analysts suggest the decision could also improve emergency diversion protocols for international flights operating in Nigeria’s airspace.
