The Federal Government has formally executed a concession agreement for the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, in a major move aimed at upgrading aviation infrastructure through public-private partnerships.
The development was disclosed in a statement signed on Friday by the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
According to the statement, representatives of the Enugu State Government, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and the concessionaire, Aero Alliance, were present at the signing ceremony.
Speaking through the statement, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said the agreement marked the conclusion of a lengthy and transparent process that had spanned several years.
“Today is the end of a very long and tedious process regarding the concession of the Enugu Airport. The process culminated on the 31st of July, 2025, when the Federal Executive Council approved the proposal to concession the Enugu Airport, subject, of course, to contract,” the minister said.
He explained that after the Federal Executive Council granted approval, the ministry, FAAN, and Aero Alliance engaged in extensive negotiations, including consultations with aviation labour unions, to ensure workers’ interests were fully protected.
“We did these agreements with the rights and privileges of workers uppermost in our minds. Let me say today that we have fully respected and preserved the rights of aviation workers. They have not been retrenched, their terms and conditions of employment have not changed in any way, and they remain workers of the Federal Government and FAAN,” he said.
Keyamo emphasised that safeguarding jobs was a core component of the concession arrangement.
“The workers have not been short-changed in any way at all. Their jobs are safe and protected. Having taken care of the rights of workers, we then addressed other critical issues and virtually covered all areas before the signing of this agreement,” he added.
The minister noted that although the principal concession agreement had been finalised, a few operational aspects were still being worked out.
“There are two little issues after signing, in terms of operationalising the agreement, regarding security fees and the financial model of the airport. These will be resolved in the next few weeks. But as far as the main concession is concerned, we have agreed to concession the Enugu Airport to Aero Alliance today,” he said.
He described the agreement as a historic step that would reposition the airport for greater efficiency, improved service delivery, and a better overall passenger experience.
The concession of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport forms part of the Federal Government’s broader aviation reform agenda focused on attracting private investment, upgrading infrastructure, enhancing regional connectivity, and improving Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global aviation industry.
Earlier in 2025, the Ministry of Aviation clarified that plans to concession Enugu and other major airports, including Lagos and Port Harcourt, were still under evaluation. It explained that proposals submitted by prospective concessionaires, with varying concession periods and financial models, were being reviewed by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission ahead of final approval by the Federal Executive Council.
A concession is a public-private partnership arrangement in which a private operator manages, maintains, and upgrades airport facilities for an agreed period, while ownership remains with the government, with the aim of improving infrastructure and service delivery through private sector expertise and funding.
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