An Arik Air Boeing 737-700, registered 5N-MJF, was forced to divert to Benin Airport on Wednesday after suffering an engine rupture while operating Flight W3 740 from Lagos to Port Harcourt. The aircraft was en route to Port Harcourt when the crew reportedly heard a loud bang from the left engine, raising concerns of possible damage. The pilots subsequently opted to divert the flight as a precautionary safety measure. In a statement signed by the airline’s PR and Communication Manager, Adebanji Ola, Arik Air said the incident occurred during the aircraft’s descent into Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa.

After an Arik Air Boeing 737-7GL aircraft with registration 5N-MJF experienced an in-flight engine anomaly and safely diverted to Benin Airport (BNI) in Edo State earlier on Wednesday while operating a scheduled domestic flight from Lagos (LOS) to Port Harcourt (PHC), the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has opened an investigation. The crew noticed unusual indicators on one of the engines during the cruising portion of the trip. Following standard safety protocols, the flight crew shut down the engine as a precaution and rerouted to Benin City, the closest appropriate airport. The plane touched down without incident, and all the crew and passengers disembarked without issue. There have been no reports of injuries.

In an effort to expedite the modernization of aviation infrastructure and enhance service delivery within Nigeria's aviation industry, the Federal Government has formally finalized the concession deal for the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu. Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, signed an agreement containing this on January 22, 2026, at the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development in Abuja. Senior officials from the Federal Government and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), as well as representatives of the airport's concessionaire, Aero Alliance, were present at the ceremony.

Following major improvements by the Oyo State government, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) authorized the resumption of commercial flights at Ibadan's Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport (SLAIA) by granting a provisional operational permit. Air Peace Limited and Overland Airways have announced the start of daily flights between Ibadan and Abuja. Overland Airways will start operating again on December 23, 2025, while Air Peace will start operating again on December 24, 2025.

Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) and Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo International Airport, Port Harcourt (JOAIA) have formally been awarded the aerodrome certificates by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), a significant achievement, underscoring shared efforts to enhance aviation safety, ensure strict regulatory compliance, and boost global confidence in Nigeria’s aviation sector.

Through its recently introduced digital system, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced that pilots' licenses and medical certifications would now be connected to the National Identity Number (NIN). It is anticipated that integrating the registration processes with the NIN will reduce fraud, increase security, expedite paperwork, and save time. At yesterday's stakeholder engagement and the launch of EMPIC Personnel Licensing and Medical Certification (PEL/MED) in Abuja, NCAA Director-General Capt. Chris Najomo made this announcement.