FG APPROVES KING AMACHREE AIRPORT AS AMANYANABO DOKUBO-ASARI’S PET PROJECT ADVANCES UNDER KALABARI KINGDOM 2050
…… Princewill hails progress, says airport is part of a wider development vision for Kalabari
The proposed King Amachree Airport at Elem Ifoko, in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, has received formal approval from the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, marking a significant milestone for the aviation project championed by Da Amakiri Tubo, Alhaji Mujahid Abubakr Dokubo-Asari, Amanyanabo of the Chiefdom and Principalities of The Source, Elem Kalabari, Torusarama Piri, in the Kingdom of Kalabari, Rivers State.
The airport, is an important component of the Kalabari Kingdom Project 2050, a long-term vision for the transformation of Kalabari through strategic infrastructure, improved connectivity, economic expansion and sustainable development.
Under this broader vision, the proposed airport is conceived not as an isolated aviation facility but as a potential catalyst for investment, tourism, commerce, employment and the development of new economic opportunities across Kalabari land.
The project reflects the ambition to position Kalabari for a more prominent role in the economic future of Rivers State and the Niger Delta, while creating infrastructure that can serve future generations.
The reported approval, conveyed in a letter dated October 26, 2026, to Royal Fouche Services Limited, followed a formal application by the company and a technical site inspection conducted by a ministerial team between September 2 and 4, 2026.
Reacting to the development, Prince Tonye T.J.T. Princewill, Executive Director of Royal Fouche Services Limited, expressed satisfaction with the progress recorded and confidence in the people and institutions involved.
“We are making remarkable progress even by the best standards and I’m not at all surprised when you look at all of the people involved.
“From the President to the Minister to the NCAA all the way to the Amanyanabo of the Source, Amanyanapus of Ifoko, Fouchee and Elem Ifoko and the Royal Fouchee team we’ve assembled.
“To us a day is 24 hours of opportunity for us to make a difference and we assure the Kalabari people that we will make them proud.
“Speed however will not be an excuse for circumventing process. We will carry every stakeholder along and make sure all reasonable voices are heard. The airport is just the tip of the iceberg. Our plans are far bigger than a single project.”
Princewill’s remarks reinforce the project team’s stated intention to pursue the airport within a wider development ambition while maintaining regulatory compliance and stakeholder engagement.
ANCHOR INFRASTRUCTURE FOR KALABARI KINGDOM 2050
The inclusion of the airport in the Kalabari Kingdom 2050 development framework gives the initiative a wider strategic context. Its potential contribution extends beyond aviation to the connected systems required for long-term economic growth.
Improved air connectivity will complement marine and road transport, strengthen access for investors and businesses, support tourism and hospitality, and create opportunities for logistics and other commercial services.
The airport could also serve as a catalyst for complementary infrastructure and private-sector investment, provided that its eventual design, financing and operations are supported by demonstrable demand and a sustainable business model.
For Amanyanabo Dokubo-Asari, the project represents a key expression of the broader ambition to move Kalabari development from aspiration towards structured, long-term implementation. The Kalabari Kingdom 2050 framework provides the wider horizon within which infrastructure initiatives such as the airport can be considered in relation to the kingdom’s future economic and social needs.
PROGRESS WITH DUE PROCESS
Despite the reported ministerial approval, further technical, environmental and aviation regulatory requirements remain necessary before the project can advance through construction and eventual operations.
These include the preparation of an Airport Master Plan, compliance with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority’s requirements, environmental impact assessment and detailed technical studies of the proposed site.
Princewill has emphasised that the pace of development will not be used to justify bypassing established procedures or excluding stakeholders whose interests should be considered.
The approval is therefore an important milestone rather than the completion of the project. The next phase will require sustained technical work, investment, regulatory compliance and coordination among the relevant institutions and communities.
As the proposed King Amachree Airport advances, its significance will be assessed not only by the progress of the aviation facility itself but also by how effectively it contributes to the long-term objectives of the Kalabari Kingdom 2050 development framework.
For Da Amakiri Tubo and the project team, the ambition is to establish infrastructure that can support a wider transformation of Kalabari. For the kingdom, the challenge ahead is to translate that ambition into a viable project with lasting economic and social benefits.
By: Al Humphrey Onyanabo,
