Owerri Airport To Shut Down For 25 Days From October 20 For Runway Repairs
The Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Owerri, Nigeria, will close for 25 days starting October 20 for runway repairs and extensions. The government stated the closure is necessary to improve safety and capacity ahead of the busy Christmas travel season.
Why it matters
The closure will significantly impact regional travel and economic activity, highlighting the trade-off between infrastructure maintenance and immediate public convenience.
Keyamo said the Nigerian government and the Imo State government, led by Governor Hope Uzodimma, agreed to the temporary closure to allow contractors to carry out the work.
The Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Owerri, Imo State, will be temporarily closed for about 25 days from October 20, 2026, to allow runway rehabilitation, resurfacing, and extension work ahead of the Christmas travel season.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced the planned closure in a statement posted on X, saying the decision was necessary to improve aviation safety, operational efficiency and the airport’s capacity.
According to the minister, the rehabilitation will involve repairing deteriorated sections of the runway pavement, treating extensive surface cracks, filling potholes, and resurfacing affected areas, alongside the planned runway extension.
He said the intervention was intended to restore the runway to a safer and more reliable operational condition.
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