All 68 occupants of an Enugu Air Limited aircraft that overran the runway at Oba Akenzua II Airport, Benin, Edo State, were safely evacuated without injury, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has disclosed.

The Bureau, in its preliminary report on the July 23, 2026 accident involving an Embraer ERJ 170-100LR aircraft with registration 5N-ENR, said the five crew members and 63 passengers on board escaped unhurt following the incident.

The accident occurred at about 2:55 p.m. during scheduled passenger flight ENU4264 from Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, to Oba Akenzua II Airport.

According to the report, the aircraft landed on Runway 05 at the Benin airport but subsequently overran the end of the runway and entered the unpaved area beyond the runway.

The aircraft struck approach-lighting installations as well as two fixed concrete structures associated with a decommissioned localizer installation.

Despite the runway excursion and subsequent impact with the installations, all occupants were evacuated using the aircraft’s emergency escape slide, with no injuries recorded.

The preliminary report was released by the NSIB as part of its ongoing investigation into the accident.

A statement signed by the Director, Public Affairs and Family Assistance, NSIB, Mrs Funke Adebayo-Arowojobe, said the report contains factual information gathered so far from witness statements, flight recorders, air traffic control communications and a preliminary inspection of the aircraft.

The Bureau stressed that the investigation remains ongoing, with further technical examinations still being conducted.

As part of the safety measures arising from information gathered at this stage, the NSIB issued four immediate safety recommendations, numbered A-2026-039 to A-2026-042.

The recommendations were addressed to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).

They relate to issues concerning the runway-end environment, control tower line of sight and the availability of meteorological information.

The Bureau also released a preliminary flight-path recreation video based on data currently available to investigators, reinforcing its commitment to transparency and the communication of safety information to the public and aviation stakeholders.

The NSIB said the preliminary report and flight-path recreation were made available to members of the public and the media.

It noted that the investigation was being conducted in line with Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, which establishes accident investigation primarily as a means of preventing future accidents and incidents.

According to the Bureau, the investigation is not intended to apportion blame or liability.

The NSIB cautioned that information contained in the preliminary report remains subject to further review and analysis and could change as the investigation progresses.

It said the final report would contain the Bureau’s conclusions and any additional safety recommendations arising from the completed investigation.

Leading automobile manufacturers, transport regulators and key government agencies have confirmed participation in the 2026 Nigeria Auto Industry Summit (NAISU), reinforcing industry support for Nigeria’s transition to electric vehicles (EVs) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered transportation.

The summit, organised by the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) in collaboration with the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), will hold on Thursday, July 30, 2026, at the Radisson Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

Major automotive companies that have confirmed participation include Weststar Associates Limited, Toyota (Nigeria) Limited, Jetour Nigeria, Carloha Nigeria, Simba Group, Cedric Masters Group, Coscharis Motors and Lanre Shittu Motors.

The event is also expected to attract policymakers, investors, financial institutions, fleet operators, technology providers and other stakeholders in Nigeria’s automotive industry.

The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, will deliver the keynote address on road safety, regulation and the deployment of electric and CNG-powered vehicles in Nigeria.

Also confirmed as guest speakers are the Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Joseph Osanipin, and the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG and EV), Ismaeel Ahmed.

The speakers are expected to provide insights into the Federal Government’s automotive industrialisation agenda, clean mobility policies and ongoing initiatives aimed at accelerating the adoption of alternative fuel vehicles across the country.

The 2026 summit is themed “Nigeria’s Clean Mobility Future: The EV and CNG Journey Under the Bola Tinubu Administration.”

Chairman of the 2026 Auto Summit Planning Committee, Rasheed Bisiriyu, said the event comes at a critical period as Nigeria intensifies efforts to reduce transportation costs, lower carbon emissions and encourage greater investment in cleaner mobility solutions.

According to him, the summit will bring together government officials, automotive manufacturers, regulators, energy experts and transport stakeholders to review ongoing reforms and develop practical strategies for advancing the country’s clean mobility agenda.

Bisiriyu said discussions would focus on expanding EV charging infrastructure and CNG refuelling stations, promoting local vehicle assembly, improving consumer awareness, attracting private sector investment and strengthening the regulatory framework needed to support sustainable transportation.

He added that the summit is designed to move beyond policy discussions by generating practical recommendations capable of accelerating Nigeria’s transition to cleaner mobility.

NAJA Chairman, Theodore Opara, said the annual summit has become one of Nigeria’s foremost automotive policy dialogue platforms, bringing together public and private sector stakeholders to address critical issues affecting the industry’s growth.

He stressed that achieving Nigeria’s clean mobility objectives requires collaboration among regulators, manufacturers, energy providers, transport operators, safety agencies and consumers.

Organisers expressed confidence that the summit would generate actionable recommendations to support the Federal Government’s drive to deepen investment in alternative fuel technologies, strengthen local automotive manufacturing, improve transport sustainability and position Nigeria as a leading player in Africa’s emerging clean mobility ecosystem.

…Says it is now Nigeria’s second-largest carrier

United Nigeria Airlines has unveiled an ambitious expansion plan that will see it launch services to several West African countries, Europe, North America and the Middle East within the next two years, as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s presence in regional and international aviation.

Chief Commercial Officer of the airline, Adedayo Olawuyi, disclosed this during an interactive session with aviation journalists, saying the carrier is already processing regulatory approvals and aircraft acquisitions to support the expansion.

According to him, United Nigeria, which currently operates domestic services to 15 destinations and daily flights to Accra, Ghana, intends to extend operations to Monrovia, Banjul, Dakar, Abidjan and Conakry in the short term before expanding to Douala, Libreville and Johannesburg.

Beyond Africa, Olawuyi said the airline has also commenced processes to begin operations to the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Turkey, Dubai and Saudi Arabia over the next six to 24 months, subject to aircraft deliveries and regulatory approvals.

He added that the airline’s planned partnership with Guinea-Bissau to establish a national carrier would further deepen its footprint across West Africa.

To support the expansion, Olawuyi said United Nigeria is pursuing interline and code-share agreements with domestic and foreign airlines, noting that collaboration remains essential to accessing highly competitive international markets.

“You can’t do anything by yourself. If you want to go far, you go together,” he said, adding that discussions with several airlines were at advanced stages.

The airline executive argued that stronger Nigerian carriers were needed to reduce the dominance of foreign airlines on international routes, saying passengers travelling within West Africa currently endure multiple connections because of the absence of direct Nigerian-operated services.

He said United Nigeria would deploy aircraft that match passenger demand on each route to ensure commercial sustainability while stimulating new markets through direct connectivity.

Olawuyi also revealed that the airline has become Nigeria’s second-largest carrier by passenger traffic and capacity, dismissing suggestions that it was merely closing in on the position.

“We are the second-largest airline by capacity and traffic in the country. Only one airline is bigger than us for now,” he stated.

He disclosed that the airline currently transports between 120,000 and 130,000 passengers monthly while strengthening its operational structures to sustain future growth.

According to him, domestic operations remain the airline’s priority because they provide the financial backbone needed to support regional and long-haul expansion.

The commercial chief acknowledged persistent operational challenges, particularly rising aviation fuel prices, bird strikes and inadequate airport infrastructure.

He described bird strikes as one of the airline’s most serious operational concerns, recalling a period when four different aircraft suffered bird strikes within four consecutive days, leading to flight disruptions, passenger compensation and aircraft repairs.

Olawuyi said the airline continues to work with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to improve bird hazard management while maintaining transparent communication with passengers during delays and cancellations.

He also called for improved transit infrastructure at Nigerian airports, saying efficient hub operations would significantly enhance regional connectivity and strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness against major African aviation hubs.

Despite the sharp rise in aviation fuel costs, from about ₦900 per litre in late 2024 to between ₦1,600 and ₦1,700 per litre currently, he said airlines had been unable to fully transfer the additional costs to passengers because of intense market competition.