Nigeria's Federal Airports Authority has proposed shutting the runway at Sam Mbakwe Airport in Owerri for 25 days. The closure would begin on October 20, 2026, to allow repair work on the pavement. Sam Mbakwe is the main airport for Imo State, so passengers there would feel the disruption most. Airlines would need to divert flights to other fields while the strip is out of use. The initial announcement did not spell out the full scope of the repairs. Travelers with bookings inside the window have been told to expect schedule changes. If the plan goes ahead as proposed, the runway would return to service in mid-November 2026.