The Federal Government has officially handed over the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, to Aero Alliance Limited under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement aimed at rehabilitating, expanding and managing the airport to international standards.
Under the agreement, Aero Alliance Limited will finance, rehabilitate, expand, operate and manage the airport with the goal of improving safety, operational efficiency and passenger experience while positioning the facility as a major aviation hub in Nigeria’s South-East.
Speaking during the handover ceremony at the airport’s international terminal, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, described the concession as a major milestone in the Federal Government’s efforts to modernise airport infrastructure through private sector participation.
Keyamo said previous administrations had attempted to concession airports across the country for nearly two decades, but failed to attract investors to the Enugu and Port Harcourt airports.
“For 20 years, various governments have tried to concession some of our airports because of the belief that the private sector would run them more professionally and in a more commercially driven way,” he said.
“During the previous administration, when almost all the airports were advertised for concession, all the bidders avoided Enugu and Port Harcourt airports. There was not one bidder for Enugu and Port Harcourt. Everybody was rushing to Lagos, Kano and Abuja because many people wanted ready food.”
According to the minister, the situation has changed under the current administration, reflecting growing investor confidence in the economic prospects of the South-East.
“Under the able leadership of President Bola Tinubu and the visionary leadership of Governor Peter Mbah, the reverse is the case. We have no bidder presently for Lagos, Abuja and Kano. But Enugu and Port Harcourt are gone,” he added.
Keyamo also addressed concerns raised by aviation labour unions, assuring workers that their jobs and welfare would be protected under the concession arrangement.
He noted that while the airport would now be privately managed with greater emphasis on efficiency and accountability, diligent employees had nothing to fear.
“When we came into office, all aviation labour unions were in court challenging the concession programme. One after another, they have withdrawn their cases after understanding our intentions. I want to assure workers that they are protected. However, it will no longer be business as usual. This airport will now be privately managed with a strong focus on efficiency, accountability and service delivery,” he said.
The minister commended Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, for championing the airport transformation project and attracting investors.
He recalled that shortly after assuming office, Mbah presented his vision for the airport to President Bola Tinubu, who directed the Ministry of Aviation to support the initiative.
“Dr Peter Mbah went straight to Mr President a few weeks after his inauguration and said, ‘This is my plan for the airport.’ The President directed that we should give him all the assistance he needs to turn Enugu into an aviation and investment hub,” Keyamo said.
The minister urged Aero Alliance Limited to execute the concession professionally and transparently, adding that the project would create more employment opportunities rather than lead to job losses.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Dr. Jobson Ewalefor, described the concession as a historic achievement.
He attributed the project’s success to Governor Mbah’s credibility and commitment.
“That we are here today is because of the reputation of the governor. His reputation attracted the capital. Governor Peter Mbah is a strategic and methodical leader who has consistently pursued this project,” Ewalefor said.
He added that the recent launch of Enugu Air and growing international partnerships demonstrate the state’s increasing importance in Nigeria’s aviation industry.
In his remarks, Governor Mbah described the concession as a major breakthrough for the South-East, saying it would unlock new economic opportunities and strengthen regional competitiveness.
“It opens a new chapter of economic possibilities because businesses across our region have long grappled with logistics constraints that increased costs, lengthened delivery timelines and limited competitiveness,” he said.
Mbah expressed optimism that future generations would view the concession as the beginning of the airport’s transformation into a world-class aviation gateway.
“We hope future generations will look back to this day as the moment when Akanu Ibiam International Airport began its transformation into a truly world-class gateway serving the South-East, connecting Nigeria to the world and opening new pathways to prosperity for millions of our people,” he added.
According to the governor, the concession aligns with his administration’s broader vision of positioning Enugu as a preferred destination for investment, trade, tourism and industrial development.
On behalf of the concessionaire, the Managing Director of Aero Alliance Limited, Saleem Hussain, assured stakeholders that the company would leverage more than three decades of aviation experience to transform the airport into one of Africa’s leading aviation and logistics hubs.
“Our goal is to transform Akanu Ibiam International Airport into one of Africa’s leading regional aviation, logistics and commercial hubs,” Hussain said.
He explained that the company would focus on improving passenger experience, connectivity, cargo operations, commercial activities and overall operational efficiency.
The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, represented by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, alongside the Enugu State Commissioner for Transport, Dr. Obi Ozor, and the FAAN Regional General Manager, Hillary Umunna, pledged their support for the successful implementation of the concession agreement.
