The Federal Government has formally transferred the operations and management of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, to Aero Alliance Limited under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) concession, marking a major milestone in its airport modernisation programme and ending more than two decades of unsuccessful attempts to concession the facility.
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 landmark achievement under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He said previous efforts to attract private investors had largely focused on Lagos, Abuja and Kano airports, leaving Enugu and Port Harcourt without significant investor interest.
According to the minister, the successful concession of Enugu Airport has renewed investor confidence in Nigeria’s aviation sector, with bidding already underway for three additional airport concessions. He also disclosed that the concession of Port Harcourt International Airport is expected to be completed within the next few weeks.
Keyamo commended Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah for playing a pivotal role in attracting investors to the project, noting that the governor’s economic vision and collaboration with the Federal Government helped bring the concession to fruition despite political differences.
Addressing concerns raised by aviation workers, the minister assured employees that their welfare and employment rights would be protected under the new arrangement. However, he stressed that the airport would now operate under private-sector efficiency standards, with greater emphasis on accountability, productivity and service delivery.
He urged Aero Alliance Limited to justify the confidence placed in it, noting that its performance as one of Nigeria’s pioneer airport concessionaires would set the standard for future airport PPP projects across the country.
Keyamo also revealed that the Enugu State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate the launch of direct flights between Enugu and Guangzhou, China, a development expected to strengthen trade, tourism and investment opportunities across the South-East.
Following the minister’s remarks, concession documents were officially signed, completing the transfer of the airport’s operational and management responsibilities to Aero Alliance Limited.
Governor Mbah described the concession as a transformative step towards positioning Enugu as a leading aviation, logistics and investment hub in West Africa. He said private sector participation would accelerate infrastructure development, improve passenger experience and support the state’s broader economic development agenda.
The ceremony was attended by senior government officials, aviation regulators, industry stakeholders and executives of Aero Alliance, underscoring the significance of the concession in advancing the Federal Government’s strategy of attracting private investment to modernise Nigeria’s airport infrastructure.
