By Sylvester Udemezue

On Tuesday, 26 August 2025, I boarded an Enugu Air flight from Lagos to Enugu. What may appear to others as a routine trip was, for me, profoundly symbolic and emotionally uplifting. My destination was Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, to join the Third Retreat of the Federal Government Committee on the Review of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria. Yet, the choice of carrier, Enugu Air, was much more than a matter of convenience. It was a quiet but heartfelt celebration, a moment of history becoming personal.

Not too long ago, I had been a loyal patron of Ibom Air. Each time I boarded, I silently prayed that my beloved Enugu State might one day own and proudly operate its own airline. I dreamed of it, longed for it, but, in truth, never thought it would materialize so soon; certainly not within just two short years of a new administration.

That long-cherished dream, one shared by countless sons and daughters of Enugu, came alive on 07 July 2025, when Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah officially launched Enugu Air at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport. The airline instantly etched its name in history as the second state-owned airline in Nigeria after Ibom Air. It was more than an aviation milestone; it was a bold statement that purposeful, people-centered leadership can make the seemingly impossible attainable.

As I sat inside that aircraft, clean, punctual, and efficiently managed, I felt an overwhelming swell of pride and fulfillment. Gazing out as we ascended into the skies above Lagos, I whispered to myself with quiet joy: _“This is Enugu. This is us. A dream now airborne. Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State is indeed a visionary leader turning dreams into reality”_

Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, with his calm, measured, and unassuming disposition, is not a leader who craves the spotlight. Instead, he channels his energy into clarity of vision and effectiveness of action. Since his assumption of office on 29 May 2023, he has consistently demonstrated what leadership anchored in purpose, discipline, and empathy can achieve. His blueprint is clear: to make Enugu the most attractive destination for investment, business, living, and tourism in Nigeria. What skeptics thought would require a decade, he has begun to deliver in less than two years, rewriting the state’s development narrative: from “plans and promises” to visible performance and measurable progress.

“Enugu Air is more than an airline. It is a statement of intent. It shows the world that Enugu is open for business and confident in its future,” declared Governor Mbah at the historic launch (Enugu State Government Official Statement).

With its initial fleet of Embraer E190 aircraft and modern customer service protocols, Enugu Air was designed not just as a transport venture but as a strategic enabler: to boost regional connectivity, attract investment, and open the South-East to greater global engagement.

When I first caught sight of the Enugu Air livery, it struck me as more than mere aesthetics. It symbolized courage, boldness of vision, and the quiet but firm power of execution. Governor Mbah’s leadership reminds us vividly of what is possible when governance is guided by honesty, innovation, urgency, and empathy. As my flight descended into Enugu that Tuesday morning, I knew I was not simply returning home; I was touching down in a state in renaissance.

Governor Peter Mbah’s two-year journey so far embodies the fusion of policy with passion, vision with values, and strategy with sincerity. From smart schools to clean water, from revitalized infrastructure to air travel, Enugu is rising steadily on the wings of purposeful governance. The dream once whispered is now airborne. For many like me, who was a frequent customer of Ibom Air while quietly hoping Enugu would someday take the same bold step, Enugu Air is more than an airline; it is a living testimony that good governance is not a myth, but a reality that can be achieved. It appears that with Peter Mba on the saddle, tomorrow is here already for Enugu State!
Best wishes, Governor Mba! Long live Enugu State!

Respectfully,
Sylvester Udemezue (Udems)
Lawyer • Law Teacher • Public Legal Affairs Commentator • Public Speaker • Humanist • TheRealityMinister
08021365545. udems@therealityministry.ngo. www.therealityministry.ngo
(26 August 2025)