Ibom Air Gets New Airbus A220-300 as Gov Eno Expands State-Owned Airline

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, received a brand-new Airbus A220-300 aircraft acquired for the state-owned airline, Ibom Air.
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The aircraft arrived at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, following the Governor’s recent visit to Airbus in Canada, where he inspected the aircraft ahead of its delivery.

The latest addition brings to three the number of Airbus aircraft in the Ibom Air fleet and marks the fifth aircraft acquired by the Umo Eno administration for the airline.

The reception ceremony was attended by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, alongside members of the National Assembly; the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Akon Eyakenyi; Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong; Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah; and other stakeholders.

International Flight

The acquisition is expected to strengthen Ibom Air’s fleet, improve its operational capacity and expand connectivity for passengers across its network.
The arrival of the new aircraft further underscores the state government’s efforts to expand and modernise the operations of Ibom Air.
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Nigeria’s Economy Records Stronger Growth as GDP Rises 4.43% in Q2

Nigeria’s economy recorded stronger growth in the second quarter of 2026, with real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) expanding by 4.43 per cent year-on-year, according to the Federal Ministry of Finance.
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The latest growth figure represents an improvement from the 4.23 per cent recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2025 and the 3.89 per cent achieved in the first quarter of 2026.

The ministry, in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, said the Q2 performance pushed real GDP growth for the first half of 2026 to 4.16 per cent, compared with 3.68 per cent recorded in the same period of 2025.
It said the growth was becoming increasingly broad-based, noting that 27 economic subsectors recorded real growth above three per cent in Q2 2026, compared with 23 subsectors in Q2 2025.

According to the ministry, key productive sectors contributed significantly to the improved performance.
Manufacturing grew by 3.24 per cent in Q2 2026, more than double the 1.60 per cent recorded in Q2 2025, reflecting an improvement in industrial output.

Agriculture also expanded by 4.39 per cent, up from 2.82 per cent in the corresponding quarter of 2025, while the services sector, the largest contributor to economic growth, recorded 4.60 per cent growth, compared with 3.94 per cent previously.

The ministry further attributed part of the improvement in the economy’s dollar value to the relative stability and appreciation of the naira.

It said the naira appreciated by more than 12 per cent between the first half of 2025 and the first half of 2026, contributing to an estimated 17 per cent expansion of Nigeria’s economy in U.S. dollar terms over the period.

The ministry said sustained growth, coupled with the Federal Government’s social programmes, could strengthen dollar incomes, improve purchasing power and help lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty.

It added that the latest economic performance placed Nigeria in a stronger position to consolidate its status among Africa’s largest economies and move towards the Federal Government’s target of achieving a $1 trillion economy by 2030.

The ministry also cited projections by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which ranked Nigeria among the top 10 contributors to global real GDP growth in 2026.

According to the statement, the IMF projects Nigeria to account for about 1.5 per cent of global economic growth in 2026, placing the country ahead of several advanced and emerging economies.

The Federal Ministry of Finance said continued macroeconomic stability, sustained expansion across productive sectors and improved investor confidence could accelerate Nigeria’s ambition of becoming Africa’s largest economy by 2028.

Taiwo Oyedele

It stressed the need for policy consistency and sustained economic reforms, saying the objective was to ensure that the benefits of improved macroeconomic performance translate into better living conditions and shared prosperity for Nigerians.
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Minister of Defence, NiDCOM Chairman, Others Meets Nigerians in Angola, Reassure Growing Economy and Insecurity Being Tackle

The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (Rtd), has reassured Nigerians in Angola of the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening national security and addressing the challenges posed by insecurity and instability in the Sahel region.
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Musa gave the assurance during an engagement with members of the Nigerian community in Luanda, Angola, on the sidelines of the 21st Extra-ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU).

The engagement was coordinated by the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, on the sidelines of the AU extraordinary session in Luanda Uganda

The Nigerian delegation to the AU summit was led by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Speaking to the Nigerian community, Musa acknowledged the security challenges confronting the country, noting that some of them were linked to instability in the Sahel, with its effects spilling across national borders.

He assured Nigerians that the Federal Government was taking comprehensive measures to strengthen Nigeria’s borders and prevent security threats and incursions.

The Minister assured Nigerians in Angola that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remained committed to defeating security threats across the country, adding that efforts were ongoing to increase the manpower, equipment and operational capacity of the Armed Forces and other security agencies.

In the same vein, Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji Ojo said “ Nigeria is growing, the economy is growing and Nigeria is on the path of full recovery “

On the request to have a Nigerian passport production centre in Angola, Tunji-Ojo said he will look into their request so as to ease issuance of passport booklets in the country.

Coordinating the meeting, Dabiri-Erewa, appreciated members of the Nigerian community in Angola for their contributions to Nigeria’s development and for continuing to project the positive image of the country abroad.

She reassured the community that the Federal Government values the contributions, concerns and welfare of Nigerians in the Diaspora, stressing that their voices remain important in shaping policies and interventions that affect them.

Dabiri-Erewa also encouraged Nigerians in Angola to continue to remain united, law-abiding and committed to contributing positively to the development of both Nigeria and their host country.

Speaking on behalf of the Nigerian community in Angola, the Secretary of the Nigeria Community Association in Angola, Nnaemeka Francis Obi, commended the engagement and highlighted some of the challenges confronting Nigerians in the country.

Obi specifically called for the establishment of a Nigerian passport office in Angola, noting that access to passport and consular services remains a major concern for members of the community.

He also raised concerns over healthcare challenges faced by Nigerians living in Angola and called for greater attention to the welfare and well-being of Nigerians in the Diaspora.

The engagement provided an opportunity for the Federal Government delegation to hear directly from Nigerians in Angola and reaffirm its commitment to deepening Diaspora engagement, addressing their concerns and ensuring that Nigerians abroad remain an integral part of the nation’s development agenda.

Minister of Defence, NiDCOM

NiDCOM reiterated that the Federal Government, through relevant agencies, will continue to strengthen its engagement with Nigerians across the globe while working towards responsive solutions to issues affecting their welfare and interests.

E-signed
Abdur-Rahman Balogun, mnipr
Director, Media, Public Relations and Protocols
Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abuja.
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