The Federal Government has finalised the concession of Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, marking a major step in its drive to modernise aviation infrastructure through public-private partnerships.
The agreement was formalised in a statement released on Friday by the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development. Officials from Enugu State, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and the concessionaire, Aero Alliance, were present at the signing.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said the concession concluded “a very long and tedious process” that began years ago.
“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,” he said.
Keyamo emphasised that the rights and job security of aviation workers were safeguarded throughout the process.
“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.
“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.
While the main concession has been completed, Keyamo noted that some operational matters, such as security fees and the airport’s financial model, would be finalised in the coming weeks.
“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.
The minister described the signing as a historic milestone that would enhance efficiency, service delivery, and passenger experience at the airport.
Source; PM News