The agreement was signed at the Government House, Benin City, following a presentation by the Chinese airline on its operational capacity and technical expertise.
Speaking at the event, Okpebholo expressed optimism about the partnership, saying the proposed airline would commence operations soon.
He described the MoU as the first step towards a long-term partnership, adding that his administration was satisfied with the capacity and capability of the prospective technical partners.
āWe have signed the MoU, and this is the first part of it. We will continue to build on it.
āWe 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. So, we are in partnership with you,ā the governor said.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Umar Musa Ikhilor, said the agreement followed a fact-finding mission to China by a seven-man delegation on September 14, 2026, to identify potential technical and operational partners for the proposed airline.
Ikhilor, who led the delegation, said the visit was approved by the governor and included the Head of Service, Dr Anthony Okungbowa; Accountant-General, Julius Anelu; and Chief Aviation Consultant to the Edo State Government, Captain Nuhu Musa, alongside other government officials and aviation experts.
He disclosed that the delegation visited China Express Airline and the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), the country’s major aircraft manufacturer, to assess their operational capacities and explore possible areas of collaboration.
According to him, China Express Airline made a stronger impression on the delegation following an inspection of its facilities and flight-monitoring operations.
Ikhilor said the delegation was particularly impressed by the airline’s flight-monitoring situation room, which featured a giant screen tracking flights across China, with 192 flights already recorded by 10 a.m. on the day of the visit.
He said the facilities inspected and engagements with the airline’s management reinforced the delegation’s confidence in China Express Airline as a suitable technical and operational partner for the proposed Edo Air.
The SSG expressed optimism that the MoU and subsequent engagements would translate into concrete steps towards the actualisation of the state-owned airline.
At the event, President of China Express Airline, Shansheng Li, presented a model aircraft to the governor, while the Managing Director of KDN Aero, Tianzhi Chen, made a presentation on behalf of the Chinese delegation, highlighting the airline’s operations and capabilities.
The meeting was attended by the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa; SSG, Umar Musa Ikhilor; Head of Service, Dr Anthony Okungbowa; Chief of Staff, Hon. Yakubu Musa, JP; Commissioner for Finance, Engr. Emmanuel Okoebor; and other government officials.
