On Monday, Festus Keyamo, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, offered high praise for Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, describing him as one of the most outstanding governors in the country—regardless of his affiliation with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Keyamo made this commendation during the official launch ceremony of Enugu Air in the state capital, acknowledging Governor Mbah’s remarkable leadership and developmental initiatives.

In his speech, Keyamo reflected on President Bola Tinubu’s recent remarks during a project commissioning and echoed the same sentiment. He humorously noted that despite Mbah being a member of an opposition party, his performance is so impressive that it has become a source of concern for the ruling party. “You are in the PDP, but we’re scared of you. With the pace you’re moving, we don’t even know how to come up with a strategy to counter your progress,” Keyamo remarked. He emphasized that performance and patriotism should be appreciated regardless of political boundaries, adding, “You have a progressive mindset and you’ve done tremendously well for Enugu State.”

Keyamo also provided guidance concerning the operations of the newly launched airline. He advised the Enugu State Government to ensure that Enugu Air is managed with professionalism and not be allowed to suffer the same fate as the defunct Nigerian Airways. He warned against letting political interests and bureaucratic red tape stifle the airline’s potential, stressing the importance of punctuality and efficiency in flight operations.

Enugu Air will begin service with three Embraer jets—models E170 and E190—chosen for their balance of performance, comfort, and suitability for domestic routes. The airline will initially operate a strategic triangular network linking Enugu, Abuja, and Lagos, with future expansion plans targeting key cities such as Port Harcourt, Benin, Kano, Owerri, and others within and beyond Nigeria’s borders.