Governor Monday Okpebholo has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China Express Airline Co. Ltd and KDN Aero, for the establishment of Edo Air, a proposed state-owned airline.
The agreement was signed on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, at Government House, Benin City, after the Chinese delegation, led by the President of China Express Airline, Shansheng Li, made a presentation on the company’s operational capacity and technical strength.
Governor Okpebholo described the MoU as the beginning of a long-term partnership, expressing confidence that the airline would soon commence operations.
Governor Okpebholo said, “We have signed the MoU, and this is the first part of it. We will continue to build on it.”
He added, “The presentation 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.”
The Secretary to the State Government, Umar Musa Ikhilor, said the agreement followed a fact-finding trip to China by a seven-member Edo delegation on 14 September 2026, approved by the governor to meet potential technical and operational partners for the proposed airline.
Ikhilor, who led the delegation, was accompanied by the Head of Service, Dr Anthony Okungbowa; the Accountant-General, Julius Anelu; and the Chief Aviation Consultant to the State Government, Captain Nuhu Musa, alongside other officials and aviation experts.
He said the delegation visited China Express Airline and the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), China’s major aircraft manufacturer, to assess their capabilities and explore areas of cooperation.
According to Ikhilor, China Express left a stronger impression on the team. At the airline’s headquarters, the delegation toured its flight-monitoring operations, where a giant screen in the situation room tracked flights across China, with 192 flights already logged by 10:00 on the day of the visit.
He said the facilities inspected and the engagement with the airline’s management convinced the delegation that China Express was a credible technical and operational partner for the proposed Edo Air.
Ikhilor said, “The MoU and further engagements will lay the foundation for concrete steps towards realising the governor’s plan to establish an Edo-Owned Airline.”
At the ceremony, Li presented Governor Okpebholo with a model aircraft, while the Managing Director of KDN Aero, Tianzhi Chen, spoke on behalf of the Chinese delegation and outlined the airline’s operations and capabilities.
The event was attended by Deputy Governor Dennis Idahosa, Chief of Staff Yakubu Musa, Commissioner for Finance Emmanuel Okoebor, and other senior government officials.
