NEWS
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT: A’IBOM AHEAD OF SCHEDULE ~ SAYS AVIATION MINISTER
By ANTHONY UDOH
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
♦️The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has commended Akwa Ibom State Government for its level of preparedness towards the scheduled take-off of International flights from the Victor Attah International Airport, VAIA.

♦️The Minister who recently announced the new international status for the VAIA, gave the commendation shortly after a three-hour inspection of the international wing of the airport and meeting with members of the International Airport ecosystem at the VAIA, December 16, 2025.
♦️The FG Technical Committee to Uyo, comprised officials from the Nigerian Customs, Immigration, NDLEA, Quarantine, Police, DSS, the Federal Ministry of Aviation and all its relevant agencies (NCAA, NAMA, NIMET, FAAN).
♦️Assessing facilities in company of the State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, Keyamo expressed satisfaction with the standard of facilities as well as the level of preparedness, and said Akwa Ibom State was already ahead of the planned take-off scheduled for April 2026.
♦️”Having heard from all the agencies involved in an International Airport ecosystem, who are all here with with me and having held a closed door meeting together… Akwa Ibom State is already ahead of the planned schedule to operate an international airport and flights from Uyo… We thought the gaps to be closed would be much, but they are virtually little or no gaps. Akwa Ibom State has gone ahead of schedule to a full blown International Airport,” he said.
♦️Facilities inspected included the brand new and well-equipped International terminal and the MRO which he described as one of the standard requirements for an International Airport. He said d that the State is ready to render its aviation services to the world and make Akwa Ibom and Nigeria proud.
♦️”This facility we are seeing here is the MRO. That means that all international airlines coming here have a facility where they can conduct routine checks before they fly out again. It is one of the standard requirements of any International Airport” .
♦️He described Akwa Ibom as.a home of great people, blessed with good successive and visionary leaders who build on quality foundation laid by founding fathers, a gesture that have encouraged growth and facilitated rapid development in the State.
♦️He thanked the Governor for building on the existing foundation of his predecessors, a choice that has raised the state to an enviable height.
♦️”We can only thank the visionaries of Akwa Ibom State. We also thank God for Pastor Umo Eno who has actually consummated every plan of his predeccessors. He has not abandoned the State’s Master Plan.
♦️”Akwa Ibom State has been blessed with a succession of visionary leaders, and everyone of them has been God sent to this place, and this is just one of the lines of successors we have here.
♦️”We are happy that Pastor Umo Eno took it from where he met it and by God’s grace, it is during his time that every foundation and seed that has been laid 25 years ago has come to fruition,” he stated.
♦️On his part, Governor Eno commended past leaders of the State for laying the solid foundation that has enhanced growth and development.
♦️”It is humbling, I must tell you, and like the Honourable Minister has said, I have always said that Akwa Ibom is blessed with good leaders. So we should stop castigating them, we should stop insulting them, they have laid a good foundation, and each administration has built on it.

♦️”But for me, it is the grace of God. God used them to begin the work, but the promise could not be realized without us. So we have seen this playing out and we thank God for the privilege. I thank Akwa Ibom people for giving us that opportunity,” he said.
♦️Governor Eno thanked the Minister for his honesty, zealous and passionate effort towards ensuring that the facilities are properly ulitised for the overall economic benefit of the country.
♦️Governor Eno appreciated President Tinubu’s administration for granting approval of the upgrade of VAIA.
He thanked the President also for the prompt release of funds for project execution in the State.

♦️”These airport projects have not come this far with borrowed money. Akwa Ibom is not owing any bank a dime today. It Akwa Ibom. If our president did not make the fund available, there is no way we would have got to where we are today,” he said.
Crime
TWO SUSPECTED ARMED ROBBERS LINKED TO MURDER AND KIDNAPPING IN ETINAN IN POLICE NET
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has recorded a significant breakthrough in the investigation into an armed robbery operation during which one person was murdered and another kidnapped at Ikot Itienang Village, Ekom Iman, Etinan Local Government Area, on July 12, 2026.
Following a petition on the incident addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command, a team of detectives from the Command promptly commenced an intelligence-led investigation aimed at identifying and apprehending those responsible for the heinous crime.
The painstaking investigation according to a Press Statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, led to the arrest of two suspected members of the armed robbery gang identified as one Gospel Effiong, a.k.a. “Python,” and Solomon Okon, a.k.a. “Plane,”
In the course of the investigation, two other suspects were also arrested in connection with the crime. They are Musa Kabiru, a native of Plateau State, alleged to be a receiver of some of the stolen items, and Victor Dickson.
During the operation, the following items were recovered from the residence of one of the arrested suspects, Solomon Okon a.k.a. “Plane”:
* A locally made pistol with one cartridge;
* A large quantity of suspected Indian hemp;
* A red cap bearing the inscription “Supreme Red Skin Confraternity”;
* item suspected to be charm; and
* Other incriminating items relevant to the ongoing investigation.
The Command views the development as a major step forward in its efforts to dismantle criminal networks responsible for violent crimes and to bring perpetrators of murder, kidnapping and armed robbery to justice.
The Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, fsi, Mnipr, commends the detectives for their diligence, professionalism and intelligence-led approach to the investigation.
The Commissioner reiterates the Command’s unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property and ensuring that persons involved in violent crimes are identified, apprehended and made to face the full weight of the law.
Members of the public are encouraged to continue providing the Police with credible and timely information that could assist in tracking down fleeing suspects and preventing criminal activities across the State.
Crime
Police arrests five drug dealers, recovers illicit drugs in Mbak Itam, Ikot Mbang
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has announced the arrest of five suspects over illicit drug related offences.

The command under the leadership of CP Baba Mohammed Azare, fsi, recorded this significant operational breakthrough in its sustained efforts to rid the State of criminal hideouts, illicit drug activities and other forms of criminality.
In a statement made available to newsmen by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, the operation was conducted in furtherance of the Commissioner of Police’s operation Zero Black Spot and sustained directive to deny criminals safe havens across the State.
Following credible intelligence received by operatives of the Command.
On 11 August 2026, at about 1600hrs, operatives of the Command conducted a targeted raid on a suspected criminal hideout at Mbak Itam, Ikot Mbang.
During the operation, five suspects believed to be involved in the illicit distribution and sale of controlled substances were arrested. They are:
1. Abraham Emmanuel (male)
2. Happiness Archibong (female)
3. Esther Okon (female)
4. Esther Udo (female)
5. Chinedu Benjamin (male)
Several other suspects fled the scene upon sighting the Police vehicle.
Items recovered from the suspects include large quantities of substances suspected to be Indian hemp, Tramadol, Loud, Ice, as well as the sum of ₦42,000.00, suspected to be proceeds connected to the illicit drug trade.
The Commissioner of Police has commended the operatives for their courage, vigilance and commitment to duty, while reiterating that the Command will continue to sustain intelligence-led operations against criminal elements, particularly those who exploit isolated locations as bases for drug trafficking, cultism and other violent crimes.
The Command wishes to make it unequivocally clear that there will be no safe haven for criminals in Akwa Ibom State. The ongoing Zero Black Spot initiative is aimed at identifying, disrupting and dismantling locations being used to facilitate criminal activities, while strengthening security and public confidence across communities.

The Command therefore calls on members of the public to remain vigilant and continue to provide timely and credible information that can assist the Police in preventing and detecting crime.
Crime
POLICE RECOVERS STOLEN HILUX, ARRESTS SUSPECTED CULTIST WITH THREE LIVE CARTRIDGES
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has recorded another operational breakthrough in its sustained fight against cultism, vehicle theft and other criminal activities across the State.
According to a Press statement signed by DSP Timfon John and made available to newsmen in Uyo on Monday 10th August 2026, two men were sighted by Operatives of the command while on routine patrol on 7th August, 2026 at about 1500hrs in possession of a Toyota Hilux with black bonnet and registration number NYA 399 AA, earlier reported stolen the previous day 6 August 2026 at Udo Eduok Street, off Aka Road, Uyo.
On sighting the Police, the suspects fled and were pursued to a non-motorable road, where they abandoned the vehicle and escaped into the bush.
The owner, one Mr. Reginald, was contacted who subsequently identified the recovered vehicle as his property. The vehicle has been recovered and is currently undergoing investigation while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects.
In a separate operation at about 2330hrs the same day, operatives of the Command while conducting stop-and-search along Abak Road by the Federal Secretariat, Uyo, arrested one Emmanuel Emmanson, 21, of Mkpat Enin LGA, and recovered three live cartridges from him.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect allegedly confessed to being a member of the Black Axe Confraternity and stated that the cartridges were intended for a cult initiation exercise in a bush.
The suspect remains in custody as investigation continues, while efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend other members of the suspected unlawful group.
The Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command, commends the operatives for their vigilance and professionalism, and assures members of the public that the Command will sustain intelligence-led operations and other proactive policing strategies to protect lives and property.
The Command urges members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons, vehicles and activities to the Police.

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