Port Harcourt International Airport has received full certification and an operational licence from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), confirming its compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization standards. The certification was granted on 14 July 2026, formalising the airport's regulatory standing ahead of its planned concession to a private operator.
Airport certification under ICAO's framework covers areas including runway and apron infrastructure, rescue and firefighting capability, safety management systems and airside operational procedures. A formal NCAA certification signals that the airport has met the documented safety and operational benchmarks required to sustain scheduled commercial operations at an internationally recognised standard.
Timed Ahead of Concession
The certification comes as the federal government moves closer to finalising Port Harcourt's concession to a private operator, following the successful handover of Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu to Aero Alliance Limited in June 2026. Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo had indicated that Port Harcourt's concession was expected to be completed within weeks of the Enugu handover, as part of a wider programme covering Lagos, Abuja and Kano.
What It Means for the Region
A fully certified, ICAO-compliant Port Harcourt airport strengthens the commercial case for incoming concessionaires and supports the Federal Government's broader aviation modernisation programme, which aims to attract private investment, improve passenger services and expand connectivity across Nigeria's regional airports beyond the traditional Lagos-Abuja axis.