A brewing crisis has emerged within Nigeria’s aviation sector over the Federal Government’s airport concession plans, particularly following the signing of the Enugu Airport concession agreement by the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
The government had earlier agreed to concession at least four airports managed by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to private investors, aiming to improve efficiency, management, and service delivery. However, the plan has met resistance from workers, who fear that their jobs and welfare may be compromised under the arrangement.
The Enugu Airport concession was approved by the Federal Executive Council last year and recently formalised by the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, after what he described as a “painstaking and tedious process” involving years of negotiations, due diligence, and consultations with aviation unions.
Keyamo assured that the agreement prioritises workers’ welfare, stressing that aviation staff at Enugu Airport would retain their status as federal employees. Nevertheless, the ministry has not disclosed the tenure of the concession, raising concerns among unions and industry experts.
Enugu Airport was part of a five-airport redevelopment project executed by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, funded through a $500 million loan from China Exim Bank and $100 million counterpart funding from the Federal Government. Other airports under the project included Lagos, Abuja, and Kano.
Following disagreements over the concession plan, aviation union leaders, including the Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATTSSAN), National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), and the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), scheduled an emergency meeting for Monday. However, sources indicate that the leaders shunned the meeting and are now preparing to submit a letter to Minister Keyamo rejecting the concession moves, citing a failure to follow due process.
An insider said union presidents, who represented workers on the Enugu Airport Concession Committee, were not legally recognised to undertake such negotiations, adding that the general secretaries were excluded from the process, despite the law requiring all correspondence to go through the union secretariat.
When contacted, ATTSSAN President John Ogbe said the union’s position would be made public at 1:00 pm Monday, while ATTSSAN Secretary Frances Akinjole asked reporters to wait until the letter is officially delivered to the minister.
Industry watchers warn that unless the Federal Government and aviation unions reach a consensus, the Enugu Airport concession could spark prolonged industrial action, potentially affecting service delivery and operations at the facility.
