The Federal Government has signed a 30-year concession agreement for Port Harcourt International Airport with PH Airport Limited, assuring aviation workers that the arrangement will not result in job losses or a reduction in their existing conditions of service.
The agreement was signed in Abuja by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, on behalf of the Federal Government, while the concessionaire was represented by its Group Managing Director, Eyo Asuquo.
Keyamo said the concession, which has the approval of President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Executive Council, is intended to improve the airport’s operational efficiency, increase revenue generation and unlock its commercial potential.
He explained that the government currently relies on revenue from profitable airports to support the operations of facilities running at a loss, adding that private-sector participation would help address the financial and operational challenges facing some airports.
According to the minister, previous attempts to concession airports had encountered resistance from labour unions and legal challenges. He said the government secured the unions’ support for the Port Harcourt deal through consultations and assurances on workers’ welfare before proceeding with the signing.
Speaking on behalf of organised labour, Comrade Ben Nnabue said the unions had endorsed the agreement after receiving commitments that no aviation worker would be retrenched as a result of the concession.
Keyamo said the concessionaire would be subject to performance reviews every five years to assess its compliance with the agreement, warning that the government could reclaim the airport if the operator failed to meet the required standards.
Asuquo described Port Harcourt’s location in the Gulf of Guinea as a strategic advantage, with the potential to position the airport as a gateway for regional commerce, investment and connectivity.
He said PH Airport Limited planned to invest in infrastructure, improve operational standards and expand airport-related economic activities, stressing that its objectives extended beyond managing the facility to unlocking its wider commercial potential.
The concessionaire also expects the investment to create additional employment opportunities as improved infrastructure and increased business activities generate demand for more workers.
The signing ceremony was attended by the Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Capt. Chris Najomo; the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Olubunmi Kuku; ministry officials and representatives of aviation labour unions.
The agreement forms part of the Federal Government’s broader effort to attract private capital and expertise into airport management, improve service delivery and strengthen the commercial sustainability of the country’s aviation infrastructure.
