Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum met with the leadership of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) at its Abuja headquarters on Tuesday to expedite the final certification of Muhammadu Buhari Airport, Maiduguri, for international operations.
The closed-door session focused on resolving outstanding technical and regulatory requirements, specifically addressing safety compliance, documentation, and operational readiness.
Governor Zulum, accompanied by senior officials including Bukar Talba, aims to secure the aerodrome license necessary for the airport to transition into a global aviation hub.
Beyond certification, the Governor formally proposed the establishment of a regional NCAA office in Maiduguri to serve the North East.
He argued that a localized regulatory presence would significantly enhance oversight, improve response times for approvals, and support the growing passenger and cargo operations critical to the region’s economic recovery.
Originally established as a domestic airstrip in the 1950s, the facility was renamed in June 2023 under federal reforms designed to upgrade its status. Although the federal government previously announced that international operations would commence on January 1, 2025, the start date remains subject to the completion of these final infrastructure and certification milestones.
Maiduguri’s strategic geography sharing borders with Cameroon, Chad, and Niger positions the airport as a vital link for reviving trans-Saharan trade routes. Historically a hub for West and Central African commerce, the state stands to regain its status as a major gateway for livestock, textiles, and grains. Opening the airport to international traffic is expected to revitalize cross-border trade, streamline humanitarian logistics, and attract foreign investment into regional markets while integrating Borno more deeply with its neighboring countries.
