The federal government on Thursday formally handed over the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, to Aero Alliance Limited under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, marking a major milestone in Nigeria’s aviation sector reform agenda.
The handover ceremony, held at the airport’s new terminal, was presided over by the minister of aviation and aerospace development, Festus Keyamo, who described the concession as a historic achievement after more than two decades of unsuccessful attempts to attract private investment to the facility.
Speaking at the ceremony, Keyamo said the concession was made possible under the administration of President Bola Tinubu, noting that previous investors had focused largely on airports in Lagos, Abuja and Kano.
According to him, “This concession plan has been on for about twenty years, but it has only become possible under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Before now, investors focused mainly on Lagos, Abuja and Kano airports. Nobody was interested in Enugu and Port Harcourt.”
He disclosed that the successful concession of the Enugu airport had renewed investor confidence in the aviation sector, with plans already underway for the concession of additional airports across the country.
The minister further noted that the Port Harcourt airport is expected to be handed over to a private operator within the next few weeks.
Addressing concerns from aviation workers, the minister assured employees that their welfare and rights would be protected under the new management arrangement.
He urged Aero Alliance Limited to justify the confidence placed in it by the federal government, noting that its performance would serve as a benchmark for future airport concessions in Nigeria.
The event was attended by the Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, alongside senior officials from the Ministry of Aviation, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), and Aero Alliance Limited.
In his remarks, the governor described the concession as a transformative step towards positioning Enugu as a leading aviation, logistics and investment hub in West Africa.
He said the partnership aligns with the state’s broader economic development strategy and would help attract new business opportunities, improve infrastructure and enhance passenger experience.
The concession of Akanu Ibiam International Airport is expected to usher in a new era of private-sector participation in Nigeria’s aviation industry, with government officials expressing optimism that it will lead to improved efficiency, upgraded facilities and sustainable growth in air transport services.
