Owerri airport to shut for 25 days from 20 October for runway repairs

Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Owerri, Imo State, will close for about 25 days from 20 October 2026 so that its runway can be repaired, resurfaced and extended. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) announced the plan in a statement on Thursday, 8 October, and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, confirmed it on Friday, 9 October 2026, Nairametrics and Tribune Online reported.

FAAN described the 20 October start date as tentative and subject to final confirmation, according to Arise News. Confirmed closure and reopening dates will be announced later through official aviation channels, Channels Television reported.

The airport is a key air link for Imo State and the wider South-East, and the closure comes weeks before the Christmas season, when many people travel home. Keyamo described it as “a critical gateway for the people, businesses and economic activities of the South-East”, according to Tribune Online. Flights booked into or out of Owerri during the closure will have to be moved. If work starts on 20 October as planned, 25 days would run to around 14 November, although officials have not yet given a reopening date.

What work will be done?

FAAN said the work had become necessary because sections of the runway had deteriorated, with potholes and extensive surface cracking made worse by recent heavy rainfall, Arise News and Nairametrics reported. The statement was signed by Henry Agbebire, FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection.

The plan covers:

• repairing damaged pavement and filling potholes;
• treating surface cracks and resurfacing the affected sections;
• extending the runway, which FAAN said would allow the airport to accommodate wide-body aircraft as traffic to the region grows, according to Arise News.

The ability to take larger aircraft will still depend on operational and regulatory requirements, Tribune Online and Blueprint reported.

What did Keyamo say?

In a post on his X account on Friday, Keyamo said the runway work is “a joint partnership of the Federal Government and Imo State Government”. He said he had spoken with the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, earlier that day, and that the governor and other stakeholders in Imo State and the South-East had agreed on the need for the closure, according to Tribune Online.

“Aviation safety cannot be compromised, and the closure is necessary to enable contractors to carry out the required works effectively,” Keyamo said, according to Tribune Online. He added that the timing mattered because traffic to the region rises ahead of Christmas, Blueprint reported.

He also acknowledged the disruption. “Whilst we recognise that the temporary closure will cause some inconvenience to passengers and other airport users, we appeal for their understanding and cooperation,” he said, according to Tribune Online.

What should travellers do?

FAAN advised passengers planning to travel through Owerri during the closure to stay in contact with their airlines for updates on flight schedules and alternative arrangements, Arise News reported. Keyamo gave similar advice, telling passengers to contact their airlines about rescheduling, cancellations and alternative travel arrangements, according to Channels Television.

Neither statement, as reported, named alternative airports. Travellers with bookings around the closure dates may want to check their airline’s change and refund terms before the dates are confirmed.

Has this happened before?

Runway problems have shut a South-East airport before. In April 2025, FAAN closed Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu from 22 April to 6 May for emergency runway repairs after a sudden rupture in the asphalt surface of a critical section of the runway, Prime Business Africa reported. Nairametrics also referred to that closure in its report on the Owerri plan.

What happens next

FAAN said it would release confirmed closure and reopening dates after further consultation with stakeholders, Nairametrics reported. Keyamo said the Federal Government would keep working with the Imo State Government, airlines and other stakeholders during the project, according to Tribune Online.

The things to watch are FAAN’s confirmation of the start date, any changes to the 25-day timetable, and airline notices on how Owerri flights will be handled during the closure.