Nosa Aituamen
The Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Owerri, Imo State, recorded a historic milestone on May 9, 2025, as it hosted its first-ever international flight since its inception.
The inaugural 2025 Hajj flight, operated by Nigeria’s largest airline, Air Peace, departed non-stop for Medina, Saudi Arabia, marking a turning point for aviation in the South-East region.
The flight, which carried 315 Muslim pilgrims, was operated using a Boeing 777-300—one of the largest aircraft to land at the airport to date.
The successful operation of the wide-body jet underscored the airport’s enhanced capacity and readiness to accommodate international flights, aligning with global aviation standards.
The event attracted high-level dignitaries, including Nigeria’s Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, who formally flagged off the flight.
He praised Governor Hope Uzodinma for fostering religious inclusiveness and urged the pilgrims to represent Nigeria with dignity and uphold national values during their spiritual journey.
Governor Uzodinma reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to upgrading the state’s aviation infrastructure and announced plans to extend pilgrimage operations to Christian pilgrims as well.
He described the occasion as a transformative step toward positioning Owerri as a viable hub for both religious and international travel.
The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, was among the prominent religious and traditional leaders in attendance, highlighting the unity and national importance of the event.
The flight also served to counter recent speculation about Air Peace’s participation in the 2025 Hajj operations.
The airline not only maintained its role in the pilgrimage program but also broke new ground by inaugurating flights from a previously untapped departure point.
With this landmark operation, Air Peace and the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport have entered a new phase of relevance, strengthening regional integration and reinforcing Nigeria’s ambition to achieve wider international aviation connectivity.