BENIN-CITY: The Edo State Government and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state have renewed verbal hostilities over Governor Monday Okpebholo’s plan to establish a state-owned airline, to be known as Edo Air.
The proposed airline was announced on Thursday, January 22, 2026, during a meeting between Governor Okpebholo and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, in Abuja.
Speaking at the meeting, the governor said the initiative is part of his administration’s strategy to strengthen regional air connectivity, attract investment, create jobs, and reposition Benin Airport as a major aviation hub.
If I have my way, I want this airline to take off immediately. Edo State needs a strong aviation presence to open up our economy and reposition Benin as a major hub, Okpebholo said.
He disclosed that the state government is exploring partnerships with local and foreign investors, including South African firms that have expressed readiness to provide aircraft and technical support. According to him, the airline is expected to operate as a commercially viable venture in compliance with national aviation regulations.
Minister Keyamo welcomed the plan, describing Benin Airport as a facility with strong historical and commercial relevance. He recalled that the airport once served as a major hub for the defunct Okada Air and said renewed investor interest underscores its viability.
He also revealed that a technical committee has been set up to oversee regulatory compliance and operational planning, adding that the airport could become fully operational between the first and second quarters of the year.
However, the Edo State chapter of the PDP strongly faulted the proposal, describing it as ill-conceived, unrealistic, and a reflection of misplaced priorities.
In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Dan Osa-Ogbegie, the opposition party argued that running an airline is capital-intensive, technically demanding, and historically disastrous for most sub-national governments in Nigeria.
The PDP said the proposal was insensitive at a time the state is grappling with decaying infrastructure, worsening urban conditions, and stalled strategic projects.
It accused the Okpebholo administration of neglecting critical areas such as road rehabilitation, urban drainage, healthcare, education, power supply, and security.
The party further alleged that key projects inherited by the administration, including the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA), the Radisson Hotel project, the Ossiomo power project, and EdoGIS, are either stagnating or declining.
According to the PDP, Benin City has deteriorated significantly, with poor road networks, collapsed urban planning, neglected drainage systems, and weak municipal services, which it said undermine investor confidence.
The opposition party therefore called on the state government to abandon the airline project and redirect scarce public resources towards people-centred development priorities.
Despite the criticism, the Edo State Government maintains that the proposed airline will boost trade and tourism, create employment opportunities, and enhance the state’s aviation ecosystem.
