President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has commissioned the newly completed, ultra-modern International Terminal Building at the Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo, as part of his one-day official working visit to Akwa Ibom State for the inauguration of several legacy infrastructure projects executed by the administration of Governor Umo Eno.

The commissioning ceremony, which took place at the airport premises on Friday afternoon, attracted a large crowd of dignitaries, top government officials, political leaders, captains of industry, traditional rulers, women and youth groups, who thronged the airport to witness the historic moment and to receive the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

President Tinubu, who arrived at the Victor Attah International Airport at exactly 11:45 am aboard the presidential aircraft, was received on arrival by Governor Umo Eno, the President of the Senate, Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio, GCON, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, members of the National Assembly and members of the Akwa Ibom State Executive Council.

Speaking shortly after cutting the tape and unveiling the plaque to officially commission the international terminal building, President Tinubu commended Governor Umo Eno for his visionary leadership, prudent management of resources and commitment to infrastructural development, noting that the airport terminal is a world-class facility that will enhance aviation activities and boost economic growth.

The President described the new international terminal as a clear manifestation of purposeful leadership and effective utilization of federal allocations and other resources accruing to the state, adding that the project aligns perfectly with his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda which seeks to develop critical infrastructure across the federation to drive investment and development.

According to President Tinubu, the Victor Attah International Airport, with its new international terminal, now has the capacity to compete favourably with other international airports across the African continent and beyond, stressing that the facility will facilitate international flights, cargo operations, tourism and other aviation-related businesses that will create jobs for Akwa Ibom people.

The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, who conducted the President round the imposing edifice before the commissioning, expressed profound gratitude to President Tinubu for honouring the state with his presence and for finding time out of his tight national schedule to personally commission the project and other projects in the state.

Governor Eno explained that ahead of the President’s visit, he personally inspected all the projects scheduled for commissioning, including the International Terminal Building at Victor Attah International Airport, the luxurious ARISE Palm Resort, the newly dualized Ring Road 3 project and the 14.5-kilometre Nsit Atai – Okobo Road to ensure that they were fully completed and ready for inauguration.

He noted that the international terminal building is one of the signature projects of his administration under the ARISE Agenda and was executed with the highest standard of quality, durability and aesthetics, to position Akwa Ibom as a major aviation hub, tourism destination and investment haven in the South-South region and the entire country at large.

The Governor further disclosed that as part of measures to ensure that Akwa Ibom people from all walks of life participate fully in the reception for the President and witness the commissioning exercise, he had declared Friday, November 6, 2026, as a work-free day across the entire thirty-one local government areas of the state.

He stated that the declaration of the work-free day was to enable civil servants, public servants, traders, farmers, artisans, market women, students, youth groups, socio-cultural organizations and members of the private sector to come out en masse, line up along the designated routes and give President Tinubu a rousing, colourful and befitting reception worthy of his status.

Governor Eno also announced that immediately after the commissioning ceremony at the airport and other project sites, the state government will be hosting a mega solidarity rally at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, in support of President Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, describing the rally as a token of appreciation for the President’s love for Akwa Ibom State.

According to him, the mega rally, which is expected to attract thousands of Akwa Ibomites and supporters of the All Progressives Congress, APC, from across the state and beyond, will be a platform for the people of the state to openly declare their unalloyed support, loyalty and solidarity for the President and his Renewed Hope Agenda for the transformation of the country.

The Governor expressed deep appreciation to President Tinubu for his continued, sustained and fatherly support for Akwa Ibom State since assuming office as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, stressing that the support has helped his administration tremendously in delivering on its development agenda and fulfilling its campaign promises to the people of the state.

He maintained that under President Tinubu’s administration, Akwa Ibom has enjoyed massive federal presence, inclusion in major federal government programmes, interventions and policies, and has benefited from strategic appointments, which have given the people of the state a greater sense of belonging, inclusion and participation in the governance of the country.

On behalf of the Government and the good people of Akwa Ibom State, Governor Eno extended a very warm and heartfelt appreciation to the political leader of the state and the President of the Senate, Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio, GCON, whom he described as a worthy son of Akwa Ibom who has facilitated the strong partnership between the state and the centre.

Governor Eno noted that Senator Akpabio, as the number three citizen of the country and the leader of the All Progressives Congress in Akwa Ibom State, has worked tirelessly, selflessly and assiduously to ensure that Akwa Ibom State benefits maximally from the dividends of democracy under the APC-led federal government and that more federal projects are attracted to the state.

He assured that his administration will continue to work hand-in-hand with the federal government, irrespective of political differences, to deliver more dividends of democracy to Akwa Ibom people, promote good governance, foster unity and accelerate the socio-economic development of the state in line with the aspirations of the founding fathers.

Meanwhile, other projects billed for commissioning during the President’s working visit include the ARISE Palm Resort, which is expected to boost tourism and hospitality, the Ring Road 3 project which has opened up Uyo metropolis and eased traffic congestion, and the 14.5-kilometre Nsit Atai – Okobo Road which connects several agrarian communities.

As at the time of filing this report, President Tinubu and his entourage, accompanied by Governor Umo Eno and other top government functionaries, have moved from the Victor Attah International Airport to other project sites for further commissioning, while thousands of Akwa Ibom people continue to line up along major roads in Uyo to catch a glimpse of the President.