The Federal Government has formally concluded the concession of Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, with the signing of a landmark agreement aimed at modernising aviation infrastructure and strengthening regional connectivity in Nigeria’s South East.
The agreement was signed in Abuja by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, alongside officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), under the regulatory oversight of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC). The concessionaire, Aero Alliance, and representatives of the Enugu State Government were also present at the signing ceremony.
Speaking at the event, Keyamo described the signing as the culmination of a long, transparent process that began several years ago and received Federal Executive Council approval on July 31, 2025. He said extensive negotiations followed the approval, including consultations with aviation unions, to ensure that workers’ interests were fully protected.
According to the minister, all airport workers retain their status as Federal Government and FAAN employees, with no retrenchment or changes to their terms and conditions of service. He stressed that safeguarding jobs and workers’ rights was a central element of the concession framework.
While confirming that the core concession agreement has been finalised, Keyamo noted that a few operational details, including security charges and the airport’s financial model, would be resolved in the coming weeks to enable smooth implementation.
From the regulatory perspective, the ICRC said the concession reflects the Federal Government’s broader strategy to deploy public-private partnerships as a tool for infrastructure delivery. The Commission explained that the Enugu Airport transaction passed through all required stages, including business case certification, due diligence, negotiations, Federal Executive Council approval and legal vetting, in line with the national PPP framework.
ICRC Director-General, Jobson Ewalefoh, said the concession would enhance the airport’s role as a gateway to the South East by improving domestic and international connectivity, while supporting tourism, trade and economic growth in the region. He added that the project has reached commercial close and will now move into the implementation phase.
The Enugu Airport concession is part of the Federal Government’s wider aviation sector reform agenda, which seeks to attract private capital, improve service delivery, modernise airport infrastructure and strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness within the global aviation industry.
