President Bola Tinubu has described his visit to Akwa Ibom State as a homecoming, reflecting on his professional years in the state when he worked with Mobil before venturing into politics.
The President made the remarks on Friday during his visit to Uyo, where he recalled his experience as an auditor with the oil company and his contributions to activities that supported the development of communities in the state.
Tinubu said he never imagined that he would one day return to the state as Nigeria’s President to commission an international airport named after a former governor with whom he had worked.
According to him, his time in Akwa Ibom was closely connected to the development of Ibeno and Eket, making the visit particularly significant.
The President was in the state to inaugurate several projects delivered by Governor Umo Eno’s administration. Among them are the international terminal at Victor Attah International Airport, an international airport hospital and the Ibom Aviation Village.
Other projects lined up for commissioning include the Airport-Okopedi Road, Ring Road 3, the AKWA-GIS Office Complex, a Command and Control Centre and the ARISE Palm Resort.
The Victor Attah International Airport, formerly known as Ibom International Airport, was established under the administration of former Governor Victor Attah, who governed Akwa Ibom from 1999 to 2007. It was renamed in his honour in November 2018 by former Governor Udom Emmanuel.
The Federal Government granted the facility international airport status in November 2025 after an assessment by the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development. Its international operations began in May 2026, when Ibom Air operated its maiden international flight from Uyo to Accra, Ghana.
Tinubu’s visit also carries political significance ahead of the 2027 general elections. Governor Eno, who left the Peoples Democratic Party for the All Progressives Congress in June 2025, has openly declared his support for the President’s second-term ambition.
The President is also expected to attend an APC political rally at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo as part of his engagements in the state.
Tinubu’s relationship with Akwa Ibom dates back to his career in the oil industry. After working with organisations including Deloitte and GTE Corporation, he joined Mobil, where he rose through the company’s audit department to become its treasurer.
In a 2012 interview with P.M. News, he explained that his initial recruitment was into Mobil’s Corporate Audit Department in the United Kingdom before he was assigned to Nigeria to examine the company’s operations. He later accepted a permanent position in the Nigerian branch.
Mobil also played a role in infrastructure development in communities around Eket and Ibeno through projects involving roads, electricity and water supply. The company later became part of ExxonMobil following the 1999 merger between Exxon and Mobil.
