Margaret Ekpo International Airport
Calabar, Nigeria
Margaret Ekpo International Airport
Nigeria's southeastern gateway serving Cross River State.
- ›Named after Margaret Ekpo, a pioneering Nigerian women's rights activist and political figure.
- ›Managed by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
- ›Serves as the main gateway for visitors attending the Calabar Festival, one of Africa's largest street carnivals.
- ›Located approximately 7 kilometers from Calabar city center.
- ›Handles both domestic and limited international passenger traffic.
Margaret Ekpo International Airport, named after the pioneering Nigerian women's rights activist, serves Calabar, the capital of Cross River State in southeastern Nigeria. Established during the colonial era and later modernised, it functions as the primary air link for a region celebrated for its carnival, biodiversity, and tourism potential. The airport handles domestic routes and limited regional traffic, playing a vital role in connecting Calabar to major Nigerian cities.
- Passenger Terminal — A single terminal building handling all arrivals and departures for both domestic and limited international operations.
- Taxis and ride-hailing apps (Bolt) available at the terminal forecourt
- Privately hired minibuses and shared buses to Calabar city centre
- Car rental services through local agencies near the airport
- Hotel shuttle transfers arranged through major Calabar hotels
- Transcorp Hotels Calabar
- Bolton White Hotel Calabar
- Lakeside Hotel Calabar
- Rock View Hotel Calabar
- Mirage Hotel Calabar
Food options inside the terminal are modest, with small kiosks and canteens offering Nigerian staples such as jollof rice, pepper soup, and suya. Outside the airport, Calabar is renowned for its local cuisine including edikang ikong soup and fresh seafood, with numerous restaurants along IBB Way and the waterfront area. Travellers are advised to stock up on snacks before long waits, as terminal facilities can be limited during peak periods.
- Arrive at least 90 minutes before departure as security checks can be slow during peak travel times.
- Negotiate taxi fares before entering the vehicle, as metered cabs are not standard practice in Calabar.
- Visit during December for the world-famous Calabar Carnival, but expect significantly higher hotel rates and airport congestion.
- Carry local naira cash as ATM availability and card payment acceptance at the airport is unreliable.
AI-assisted overview, verified against public sources.
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Margaret Ekpo International Airport, also known as Calabar Airport, is an airport serving Calabar, the capital of the Cross River State in Nigeria. The airport is named after Margaret Ekpo, who was one of Nigeria's pioneering feminists and anticolonial activists. It was commissioned in 1983 by Alhaji Shehu Shagari, then president of Nigeria.
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