Former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, has commended the establishment of Enugu Air, describing it as a practical example of how strategic government intervention can stimulate economic growth and unlock new markets.
In a statement shared on June 24, 2026, Chidoka recounted his experience at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, where he observed two Enugu Air aircraft parked alongside an Air Peace aircraft, with all three flights appearing fully booked.
According to Osita Chidoka, the Enugu Air flights had arrived from Abuja and Lagos, a strategy he described as smart and commercially sound. He noted that positioning aircraft overnight in both cities allows the airline to transport passengers into Enugu early in the morning and return with travellers heading to Nigeria’s busiest air routes.
Chidoka explained that the growth of passenger traffic depends heavily on reliability and confidence, stressing that regular flight operations encourage more people to travel and invest in a destination over time.
He argued that most private investors would naturally focus on established markets such as Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, where demand is already high and returns are more predictable. However, he said the Enugu Air initiative demonstrates the important role governments can play in developing emerging markets and reducing investment risks.
“The objective is not permanent state ownership, but strategic intervention followed, where appropriate, by private-sector participation and eventual divestment,” Osita Chidoka stated.
He further challenged the belief that government should have no role in business, insisting that successful development requires practical solutions rather than rigid ideology.
Osita Chidoka added that the lessons from Enugu Air could be applied to other sectors, including industrial parks, technology hubs, logistics infrastructure, and skills development, where private capital may be hesitant to make the first move.
The former minister concluded that beyond infrastructure and investments, the success of such initiatives depends on building capable institutions and professional public service structures focused on long-term development outcomes.
