The Federal Government has announced the temporary closure of Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, Imo State, for 25 days to allow for runway rehabilitation and extension.
The closure will commence on October 20, 2026, ahead of the peak Christmas travel season.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed this in a post on his X handle on Friday, saying the decision followed consultations among the Federal Government, the Imo State Government and aviation stakeholders in the South-East.
Keyamo said he had spoken with Governor Hope Uzodimma earlier in the day, noting that the planned rehabilitation was necessary to enhance aviation safety and prepare the airport for increased passenger traffic during the festive season.
According to the minister, the project will involve repairing deteriorated sections of the runway pavement, treating surface cracks, filling potholes, resurfacing affected areas and extending the runway.
He explained that the rehabilitation, to be executed by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria in partnership with the Imo State Government, is aimed at restoring the runway to a safer and more reliable condition.
The minister added that the intervention was considered necessary to improve the airport’s operational capacity and ensure safer flight operations ahead of the anticipated increase in air travel during the Christmas period.
