For years, travellers from Nigeria’s South-South and South-East heading to Ghana had little choice but to connect through Lagos, adding hours to their journey and increasing travel costs before eventually arriving in Accra. That long-standing challenge is now giving way to a more convenient option.
Ibom Air’s newly launched Uyo–Accra service is positioning Akwa Ibom State as an emerging aviation gateway to West Africa, offering business and leisure travellers a faster, more affordable and seamless alternative.
With a one-way fare of about $425, a businessman travelling from Aba can now fly through Uyo and arrive in Accra in just one hour and 40 minutes, avoiding the stress, cost and delays associated with travelling first to Lagos.
The route further deepens ties between Nigeria and Ghana—two West African neighbours linked by vibrant trade, tourism, education and a popular cultural rivalry expressed through football, music, fashion and cuisine.
Explaining the rationale behind the new route, Ibom Air’s Group Manager, Marketing and Communications, Annie Essienette, said demand for direct regional connectivity had continued to grow.
“Ghana remains one of Nigeria’s largest trading partners in West Africa, with significant movement of business travellers, students, tourists and professionals between both countries. We recognised the growing demand for a direct connection from the South-South and South-East without forcing passengers to transit through Lagos.”
She noted that for many years, travellers from the two regions had borne the burden of additional travel time and expenses simply because there were no direct international connections.
The Uyo–Accra route is designed to eliminate that inconvenience. It offers travellers a shorter journey, lower travel costs and greater convenience while positioning Uyo as a regional gateway for tourism, investment and commerce.
Essienette dismissed the notion that only Lagos could sustain international passenger traffic, insisting that the South-South and South-East possess sufficient commercial potential to support regional flights.
“There is a vibrant business community across the region, multinational companies, educational institutions, religious organisations and a growing diaspora. These factors provide a strong passenger base and demonstrate that international routes can thrive outside Lagos.”
Beyond reducing travel time, she said passengers would also benefit from the airline’s commitment to operational excellence.
“Ibom Air has built a reputation for schedule reliability, on-time performance and quality customer service. Those same standards will define our Uyo–Accra operations.”
The airline also expects the new service to stimulate economic activities within Akwa Ibom by increasing visitor arrivals and creating fresh opportunities across the hospitality and tourism value chain.
“As passenger traffic grows, hotels, transport operators, tour companies, restaurants and other businesses will benefit. Improved connectivity creates opportunities for investment and economic growth.”
On the airline’s ability to sustain its regional expansion, Essienette expressed confidence in Ibom Air’s operational capacity.
“We have continued to invest in modern aircraft while maintaining disciplined scheduling and high operational standards. We are confident that Ibom Air is well positioned to meet increasing demand and strengthen Uyo’s emergence as a strategic aviation hub within the Gulf of Guinea.”
As Ibom Air extends its regional footprint, the Uyo–Accra route represents more than another international destination. It signals a shift in Nigeria’s aviation landscape, proving that efficient international connectivity can be developed beyond Lagos while opening new economic opportunities for businesses, travellers and the wider South-South and South-East regions.
