Samson Echenim 
Nigerian domestic airline, Overland Airways, has announced commencement of flights to the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport, Minna, Niger State capital.
The airline on Wednesday said, it was partnering the Niger State Government to commence the flight services to Minna airport from Lagos and Abuja, effective April 23, 2025.
Overland Airways will operate three weekly flights on the Minna-Lagos-Minna route and three weekly flights on the Minna-Abuja-Minna route. These flights will be operated on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays using Overland Airways’ brand-new Embraer 175 aircraft.
Flights will depart Lagos to Minna at 8am and Minna to Lagos at 3pm. Flights from Minna to Abuja will depart at 9:30am while Abuja to Minna will depart at 2pm.
Commenting on the service, Capt. Edward Boyo, Chief Executive Officer and Accountable Executive of Overland Airways said: ‘We are excited to commence flight services to Minna from Abuja the Federal Capital and Lagos the Commercial hub of Nigeria. This flight services will facilitate trade, tourism and economic activities in Niger State and its environs and support the Government of Niger State in its quest to attract more direct investments and improve the livelihood of citizens of the State.
“We thank particularly His Excellency Mohammed Umar Bago, the Executive Governor of the Niger State for his passionate commitment to the growth and development of the State and for making the dream of a connected Niger State come true.”
He noted that being the largest state in Nigeria by landmass, Niger State also hosts major hydroelectric power dams and other businesses, requiring reliable air services to drive its economic development, adding that Overland Airways is uniquely positioned to meet this need.
The Niger State Ministry of Transport in collaboration with the New Niger Development Project (NNDP), jointly stated: “It has been an uphill journey to bring the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport to fruition—from its construction to its operationalization. Today, we are immensely proud to see this dream become a reality. We are honoured to have Overland Airways as the pioneer airline for this project, setting the foundation for expanded air travel connectivity in Niger State. Mr. Governor is particularly proud of this achievement, which aligns with his vision of modernizing infrastructure and boosting economic development in Niger State.”
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the New Niger Aviation, Alhaji Liman Katamba Kutigi, said: “This partnership with Overland Airways will ensure regular and robust flight services from Abuja and Lagos to Minna, Niger State. We are thrilled to partner with Overland Airways, which has a reputation for excellent customer service and reliability, and look forward to working together to reposition the aviation sector and economy of Niger State.”
