The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced that five Nigerian airports are set for concession. This development was revealed during his meeting with Kamil Awdhi, the Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
Keyamo listed the five airports up for concession: Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (Abuja), Murtala Muhammed International Airport (Lagos), Port Harcourt International Airport, Aminu Kano International Airport, and Akanu Ibiam International Airport (Enugu). He expressed gratitude to IATA for showing interest in providing advisory support as the concession process begins.
The minister stressed the urgent need for action due to the deteriorating infrastructure within the aviation industry. He emphasized that Nigeria’s strategic geographical location positions it as the aviation hub for Africa and beyond, encouraging both local and foreign investors to take advantage of the opportunity to invest in the sector.
He also highlighted the return of Italian and United Arab Emirates airlines as a positive signal for the industry’s rejuvenation, with the government working to further open the market to more operators.
Kamil Awdhi, representing IATA, confirmed the association’s willingness to provide advisory services without financial cost to Nigeria. He explained that IATA’s role as a global trade association focuses on promoting safety, security, and efficiency in air transport, while also fostering collaboration among airlines and airports.
Awdhi further stated that IATA is prepared to help Nigeria develop its aviation sector, noting the country’s prominent position in global aviation. He also proposed organizing a workshop to educate stakeholders on the distinction between concession and privatization and assured that IATA was close to signing an MoU with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to audit all aircraft flying in the country.
