DOUALA, CAMEROON — A new chapter in air connectivity between Nigeria and Cameroon was opened on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, as Enugu Air touched down at Douala International Airport on its maiden international flight.

The historic arrival established a direct air link between South-East Nigeria and Central Africa, bringing together Nigerian and Cameroonian government officials, aviation stakeholders, business leaders and members of the Nigerian community in Douala.

The new route is expected to strengthen trade, tourism, investment, sports and cultural exchanges while making the movement of people and goods between Enugu and Cameroon easier and faster.

Representing Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Chidiebere Onyia, said the international route was part of the governor’s deliberate effort to reposition Enugu as a major economic and tourism hub.

According to Onyia, Governor Mbah has set a target of attracting three million visitors to Enugu annually, making improved connectivity and a conducive business environment critical to achieving the goal.

“Enugu Air is a product of that vision,” he said, adding that the direct connection would deepen tourism, commerce, sports and cultural exchanges between Enugu and Cameroon.

Onyia noted that passengers could now travel from Douala to Enugu in about an hour, while residents of Enugu would have easier access to Cameroon’s commercial and economic opportunities.

He also assured travellers that the new international service would be sustained, stressing that Enugu Air was not established for a temporary operation.

“Enugu Air is consistent,” he said, assuring that the airline would not launch a route only to discontinue it shortly afterwards.

Cameroon Welcomes New Partnership

The Governor of Cameroon’s Littoral Region, Samuel Dieudonné Ivaha Diboua, described Enugu Air’s arrival as the beginning of a fresh partnership between Cameroon and Enugu State.

Diboua recalled the longstanding relationship between Enugu and Cameroon, particularly in the area of sports, but said the new direct flight had created an opportunity to expand the relationship into stronger economic cooperation.

He noted that a significant number of Nigerian businessmen live and operate in Douala, saying the new air connection would facilitate the movement of people and goods between the two destinations.

“With these new flights, we think that the economy will grow,” he said.

Douala Airport Records Strong Passenger, Cargo Traffic

The Director of Douala International Airport, Jacob Bahayang Mbargaso, described the inaugural Enugu-Douala flight as an event of “triple significance”—diplomatic, economic and commercial.

Mbargaso said the new route was made possible through collaboration among Cameroon Airports, the Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority, ASECNA, Enugu Air and other aviation stakeholders.

He described Enugu Air’s arrival as a sign of confidence in Douala’s growing importance as a gateway and Central African aviation hub.

According to him, Douala International Airport recorded 8,500 aircraft movements, 595,971 passengers and 6,200 tonnes of freight during the first half of 2026.

He added that Enugu Air had become the airport’s 20th regular airline for the Summer 2026 season.

“Aviation indeed constitutes a powerful lever for regional integration,” Mbargaso said.

Nigerian High Commissioner Hails New Connection

The Nigerian High Commissioner to Cameroon, Sani Umar Jibrilla, described the occasion as more than the arrival of an aircraft on Cameroonian soil, saying it represented the beginning of a new chapter in relations between Nigeria and Cameroon.

Jibrilla said the Enugu-Douala connection would be particularly beneficial to traders and entrepreneurs from South-East Nigeria by providing a faster and more structured link to one of Central Africa’s major commercial centres.

He said the route would facilitate business, tourism and cultural exchanges while contributing to broader African integration.

The envoy commended Enugu Air and the Cameroonian authorities for making the new connection possible.

Enugu Air Promises Continuity

For the Chief Executive Officer of Enugu Air, Captain Tolu Ita, the inaugural landing was evidence that the airline’s ambitious expansion plans were rapidly becoming reality.

Ita disclosed that Enugu Air had joined the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) within six months, despite the association’s usual one-year expectation, saying the airline’s performance had attracted recognition.

She assured passengers that the airline was committed to maintaining the Douala service.

“We are not like one of the airlines that will start and stop,” Ita said. “We go and we see and we are committed to make sure that this connectivity that we promised today continues.”

Nigerian Community in Douala Celebrates

For Lady Love Arum, an indigene of Enugu State who has lived in Douala for more than 16 years, the arrival of Enugu Air represented the end of years of difficult journeys between Cameroon and home.

Arum said residents previously had to travel by road or route their journeys through Lagos, making trips particularly stressful for families.

“I am so happy. We are blessed,” she said, adding that residents could now travel home with their children “without fear of bad roads or bandits.”

She said she initially doubted that the direct flight would become a reality until she witnessed Enugu Air land in Douala.

Arum praised Governor Mbah for making what she described as an unlikely development possible.

Enugu Delegation

The Enugu delegation at the historic event included the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Osinachi Njeze; Commissioner for Information, Dr. Malachy Agbo; Commissioner for Tourism, Dame Ugochi Madueke; the Commissioner for Finance; and leading private-sector real estate developer, Dr. Ugo Chime, among other officials.

The landing marked Enugu Air’s first international operation and established a direct aviation corridor between South-East Nigeria and Cameroon.

Beyond its significance to aviation, the new route is expected to create easier access for traders, tourists, investors, families and other travellers, transforming what was previously a long and circuitous journey into a direct connection between Enugu and Douala.

For Enugu and Cameroon, the inaugural flight therefore represents not just a new airline route, but a new channel for expanding business, tourism, cultural exchange and people-to-people relations across the region.