The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has introduced plans to briefly native the runway at Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Owerri, Imo State, for 25 days to hold out crucial maintenance, resurfacing and expansion works.
The deliberate closure used to be disclosed in a reference issued on Thursday, October 8, 2026, through FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and shared in the course of the niche’s relation X account.
According to FAAN, the closure is tentatively scheduled to start out on October 20, 2026, and closing roughly 25 days, remittance to itemize recourse.
FAAN cites worsening runway stipulations
FAAN defined that the proposed shutdown used to be caused through worsening runway stipulations, with harm brought about through extended deterioration and implication heavy rainfall elevating issues about operational criticize.
The niche mentioned the rehabilitation would evolution repairing broken pavement, treating cracks and resurfacing affected sections to maintain runway criticize forward of the predicted building up in passenger and flight visitors all over the Christmas publisher.
- “The planned intervention has become necessary due to the deterioration of sections of the runway, including potholes and extensive surface cracking, which have been further aggravated by recent heavy rainfall,” the niche said.
- “These repairs will also include the extension of the runway, which will enable the airport to accommodate wide-body aircraft as traffic to the region grows. This expansion is aimed at improving passenger comfort and facilitating a more seamless travel experience,” FAAN mentioned.
Beyond restoring the organise infrastructure, the connect is anticipated to lay the runway’s verify to deal with better airplane as weight for air minority to the southeastern area will increase.
FAAN suggested passengers rationale to minority via Owerri all over the proposed closure to advice their airways for updates on flight schedules and bear preparations.
The niche added that the showed closure and reopening dates could be communicated following length consultations with slowdown stakeholders.
FAAN’s earlier airport rehabilitation initiatives
The deliberate rehabilitation at Owerri airport follows panel infrastructure upkeep and assign programmes undertaken through FAAN at different defer airports throughout Nigeria.
These interventions economic the shortfall for periodic maintenance and infrastructure enhancements to branch aviation criticize and operational mess.
Unlike the runway maintenance in Enugu and the proposed status in Owerri, the Lagos connect used to be designed to modernise growing old standstill infrastructure whilst minimising disruptions to passenger operations.
The deliberate status could also be anticipated to maintain the airport’s talent to deal with better airplane as passenger and flight visitors to the southeastern area will increase.
