Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has taken a major step towards establishing a state-owned airline, Edo Air, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China Express Airline Co. Ltd and KDN Aero.
The agreement was signed on Wednesday at the Government House in Benin City, in the presence of representatives of the Chinese airline, led by its President, Shansheng Li, after a presentation on the company’s operational capacity and expertise.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, Governor Okpebholo expressed satisfaction with the proposed partnership, describing the MoU as the beginning of a long-term business relationship that would pave the way for the actualisation of Edo Air.
“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. By the grace of God, Edo Air will be in the airspace very soon. So, we are in partnership with you,” the governor said.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Umar Musa Ikhilor, Esq., disclosed that the agreement followed a fact-finding mission to China by a seven-man delegation on September 14, 2026. The trip, approved by the governor, was aimed at identifying credible technical and operational partners for the proposed state-owned airline.
Ikhilor, who led the delegation, said the team included the Head of Service, Dr Anthony Okungbowa; the Accountant-General, Julius Anelu; and the Chief Aviation Consultant to the Edo State Government, Captain Nuhu Musa, alongside other government officials and aviation experts.
According to him, the delegation visited China Express Airline and the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), one of China’s major aircraft manufacturers, to assess their operational capabilities and explore possible areas of collaboration.
He noted that China Express Airline made a particularly strong impression on the delegation during the visit to its headquarters, where they inspected its flight-monitoring operations.
The SSG explained that the airline’s operations centre featured a massive monitoring screen displaying flights across China, with 192 flights already recorded by 10 a.m. on the day of the visit.
He said the facilities inspected, coupled with engagements with the airline’s management, convinced the delegation that China Express possessed the technical and operational capacity required to partner with Edo State on its proposed airline project.
Ikhilor expressed optimism that the MoU and subsequent engagements would provide a solid foundation for concrete steps towards establishing an airline owned by the Edo State Government.
At the ceremony, China Express President, Shansheng Li, presented Governor Okpebholo with a model aircraft as a symbolic gesture of the proposed partnership.
Also speaking on behalf of the Chinese delegation, the Managing Director of KDN Aero, Tianzhi Chen, gave a presentation highlighting the airline’s operations, technical capacity and areas of potential collaboration.
The event was attended by the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa; the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Musa Ikhilor; the Head of Service, Dr Anthony Okungbowa; the Chief of Staff, Hon. Yakubu Musa, JP; the Commissioner for Finance, Engr. Emmanuel Okoebor; and other top government officials.
The proposed establishment of Edo Air is part of the state government’s efforts to strengthen its aviation sector, improve connectivity and create new economic opportunities for Edo State.
