Cross River State Eyes Expansion with Additional Airports to Boost Tourism, Economic Growth
Cross River State is seeking to build additional airports to fully unlock its immense tourism potential and attract a greater number of business and leisure travellers, the State Commissioner for Aviation, Capt. Eno Inah (retd), has revealed.
Speaking in an interview in Lagos on Wednesday, Capt. Inah expressed confidence that further aviation infrastructure would not constitute a burden on the state’s finances nor require eventual transfer to the Federal Government.
“Cross River State is uniquely positioned in Nigeria,” Inah said, referring to its proximity to the Gulf of Guinea, including neighbouring islands such as São Tomé and Príncipe and Equatorial Guinea. “Outside the coastline, we are at the depth of the Gulf of Guinea… If you can’t land in Calabar, you can land in Obudu Airport.”
He highlighted that the existing Margaret Ekpo International Airport in Calabar is inadequate for the state’s current and future needs. Its location within a densely populated community restricts any possibility of runway expansion or infrastructure development.
“The Calabar airport is constrained completely because there is no space for expansion. It’s inside the community, the neighbourhood is very close, and urban development has led to massive encroachment on the land,” Inah noted.
According to him, large aircraft are unable to land in Calabar due to the short runway, and this limitation undermines the state’s aviation ambitions. “Big aircraft, as it is, can’t come to Calabar Airport. And more so, it’s a Federal Government airport,” he added.
The commissioner affirmed that the Obudu Cargo Airport, currently under construction by the State Government, would be commissioned before the end of the year. He described the project as key to unlocking the region’s economic growth and improving its contribution to the federation account.
Inah further hinted at the possibility of a third airport, stating that the proximity of airports is a global norm, particularly in Europe, where multiple airports often serve small geographical areas or are dedicated solely to maintenance operations.
“We can even add a third airport to the plan. In Europe, we have airports close to each other and some are just there for maintenance purposes alone,” he said. “I can tell you that there will be an additional airport even in Calabar soon.”
He also envisaged a future where the current airport in Calabar might be reserved for presidential, military or VIP operations, while newer facilities would handle commercial aviation exclusively.
Inah reaffirmed the state’s aviation agenda, revealing that Cross River would soon launch its state-owned carrier. He disclosed that the Air Transport Licence (ATL) from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is expected within the next three months, with the Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) to follow.
He announced the acquisition of two additional CRJ1000 aircraft in preparation for the airline’s rollout, further solidifying the state’s aviation ambitions.
Commending the management of Aero Contractors, led by CEO Capt. Ado Sanusi, Inah praised the firm’s commitment to its partnership with the state on Cally Air operations.
“We are very much at home with the agreement we have with Aero Contractors. There is no default from either side,” he said. “Our relationship is smooth. We are working hard to be an airline like them. They are setting the standards and raising the bar in the airline sub-sector.”
As part of its long-term aviation development, Cross River State also plans to establish Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities and an aviation training school, which will position the state as a hub for aviation services and education in Nigeria.
