As Enugu State’s ambitious Airline project takes off, the airwaves are heating up with debate. Is it a visionary investment or a misplaced priority?

 

Special guests deliberate on the growing controversy surrounding Enugu Air, the new state-owned airline initiative by Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah’s administration.

 

The session which featured seasoned and distinguished public affairs analysts, media experts, and communicators Dr.Ambrose Igboke,Prof.Chiwuike Uba and Hon.Uchenna Cyril Anioke scrutinise the airline project through lenses of economic sense, social impact, and political implications, laying bare both its visionary prospects and lingering concerns in a thought provoking edition of South East Media Conclave on Freedom Square TV, on Monday,July,14,2025.

 

Examining the matter,

Dr. Ambrose Igboke described Governor Mbah’s administration as one that “visualizes, pursues, and achieves goals.” According to him, Enugu State is witnessing an unprecedented developmental ecosystem where multiple sectors such as health, infrastructure, agriculture, vocational training, and education are advancing simultaneously. He opined that Enugu Air is not an isolated venture but a deliberate extension of this ecosystem. “The critical question posited by him “is what brings people to Enugu?” He pointed to deliberate efforts by the Mbah administration to stimulate tourism and commerce through projects like the International Conference Centre, Presidential Hostel, and partnerships with international hospitals. He revealed that “over 5,000 delegates have already registered for the NBA Conference slated for August in Enugu,” a development expected to pull significant traffic and integrate seamlessly with the state’s air travel infrastructure.

 

Dr. Igboke referenced Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo’s recent endorsement of Enugu Air, describing it as “an audacious, courageous, bold, and wise investment,” while emphasizing that sustainability would ultimately depend on competent management and operational discipline.

 

“The Enugu airway is a good way to go but the management must determine its future viability.”

 

However, Prof. Chiwuike Uba, speaking from a socio-economic standpoint, raised concerns over the airline’s financial and policy implications. He expressed concern about the lack of public disclosure surrounding the actual investment figures, opining that this undermines transparency and fiscal accountability. He contended that investing in a venture projected to run at a loss for four years was “a poor prioritization of scarce resources,” particularly when existing infrastructure in education, water reticulation, and public health desperately require attention.

 

Prof. Uba further asserted that the state could have opted for a public-private partnership model or subsidized existing private airlines to improve air connectivity while mitigating financial risks.

 

“By the time we offset cumulative losses over four years,it may take another nine years to break even, especially considering maintenance costs of airlines are denominated in dollars.”

 

He nonetheless acknowledged Governor Mbah’s achievement in reducing drastically the state’s external debt, previously owned prior to his administration but reiterated that public procurement processes, profit projections, and criteria for selecting XEJet as the management partner have to be publicly disclosed.

 

On a broader socio-political dimension, Dr. Igboke attested to the initiative’s relevance, noting that Enugu Air is not elitist in nature, as it complements other mass-targeted transport projects like CNG buses, proposed rail lines, and a planned cargo terminal.

“In a democracratic rule ,the rich are also part of the society, and governance must cater for all strata.”

 

Prof. Uba worries that while economic growth should be inclusive, priority must be given to initiatives with all immediate and broad-based impact. “If the poor are happy, the rich will also sleep in peace,” he quipped, stressing that good roads, rail networks, and reliable water supply remain more urgent than an airline venture and didn’t exclude the elites as well.

 

On governance style, Dr. Igboke maintained that Governor Mbah’s decisions are not impulsive but the outcome of carefully calculated initiatives, backed by experience in international business. He called for an increase in town hall meetings and more robust partnerships with local governments to address gaps in infrastructure maintenance and community-based services. He equally urged the National Development Agency (NDA) to proactively promote the government’s programmes to ensure citizens are fully informed.

 

Meanwhile, Hon. Uchenna Cyril Anioke expressed confidence in the project’s long-term benefits and its potential to evolve into an international airline while suggesting that operational transparency and periodic public disclosures are entrenched.

 

On a conclusive note, a broad consensus emerged on the need for transparency, sound economic planning, and legislative safeguards to protect strategic projects like Enugu Air from political discontinuity in future administrations as Enugu Air has become a defining talking point in the political and developmental discourse of Enugu State.