Edo State Government has taken another step towards establishing a state-owned airline following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with China Express Airlines Co., Ltd. and KDN Aero for the proposed launch of Edo Air.
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The agreement was signed on Wednesday at the Government House in Benin City by Governor Monday Okpebholo and representatives of the two Chinese aviation companies.
The MoU is expected to provide a framework for technical and operational collaboration towards the establishment and management of the proposed airline.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, Okpebholo described the agreement as the beginning of a long-term business relationship and assured the Chinese partners of the state government’s readiness to work with them.
“We have signed the MoU, and this is the first part of it. We will continue to build on it. A presentation was made, which was very beautiful and wonderful. We have seen your capability, and we are ready to do business with you,” he said.
The governor added: “By the grace of God, Edo Air will be in the airspace very soon. So, we are in partnership with you.”
Secretary to the State Government, Umar Musa Ikhilor, said the agreement followed a fact-finding mission to China by a seven-member Edo State delegation on September 14, 2026.
Ikhilor, who led the delegation, said the visit was approved by the governor to identify technical and operational partners capable of supporting the establishment and management of the proposed airline.
Other members of the delegation included the Head of Service, Dr Anthony Okungbowa; the Accountant-General, Julius Anelu; and the Chief Aviation Consultant to the state government, Captain Nuhu Musa, alongside other officials and aviation experts.
According to Ikhilor, the delegation visited China Express Airlines and the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, COMAC, to assess their technical capacity and explore areas of possible cooperation.
He said China Express Airlines particularly impressed the delegation during its visit to the company’s headquarters, where members inspected its flight-monitoring and operational facilities.
Ikhilor said the delegation was shown a situation room equipped with a large screen tracking flights across China, with 192 flights already recorded by 10 a.m. on the day of the visit.
He said the facilities and discussions with the airline’s management strengthened the delegation’s confidence in China Express Airlines as a potential technical and operational partner for Edo Air.
The SSG expressed optimism that the MoU and subsequent engagements would translate into concrete steps towards the establishment of the airline.
At the ceremony, President of China Express Airlines, Shansheng Li, presented a model aircraft to Governor Okpebholo, while the Managing Director of KDN Aero, Tianzhi Chen, spoke on behalf of the Chinese delegation and made a presentation on the airline’s operational capacity.
The latest agreement builds on Edo State’s earlier efforts to establish an indigenous airline as part of its aviation development plans.
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