The Federal Government has formally transferred the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu to Aero Alliance Limited under a Public-Private Partnership concession designed to modernise, expand and manage the airport in line with global aviation standards.
As part of the agreement, Aero Alliance Limited will finance the rehabilitation and expansion of the airport, while taking responsibility for its operations and management. The initiative is expected to improve safety, boost operational efficiency, enhance passenger experience and position the facility as a leading aviation hub in Nigeria’s South-East region.
Speaking during the handover ceremony at the international terminal of the airport, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, described the concession as a major milestone in the Federal Government’s efforts to modernise airport infrastructure through private sector investment.
Keyamo said previous attempts by successive administrations to concession Nigeria’s major airports attracted strong investor interest in Lagos, Abuja and Kano, but failed to secure viable bids for the Enugu and Port Harcourt airports. He noted that the successful concession of Akanu Ibiam International Airport marks a breakthrough in the government’s strategy to expand private sector participation in the aviation sector.
Keyamo said, “For 20 years, various governments have tried to concession some of our airports because of the belief that the private sector would run them more professionally and in a more commercially driven way.
“During the previous administration, when almost all the airports were advertised for concession, all the bidders avoided Enugu and Port Harcourt airports. There was not one bidder for Enugu and Port Harcourt. Everybody was rushing to Lagos, Kano, and Abuja because many people wanted ready food.”
According to the minister, the situation has changed significantly under the current administration, underscoring growing investor confidence in the economic potential of the South-East.
“However, under the able leadership of President Bola Tinubu and under the visionary leadership of people like Dr Peter Mbah, the reverse is the case,” he said. “Guess what? We have no bidder presently for Lagos, Abuja, and Kano. But Enugu and Port Harcourt are gone.”
In a follow-up statement, the minister sought to reassure labour unions over the concession, stressing that the rights, welfare and job security of airport workers would be fully safeguarded under the new arrangement.
“When we came into office, all aviation labour unions were in court challenging the concession programme. One after another, they have withdrawn their cases after understanding our intentions. I want to assure workers that they are protected. However, it will no longer be business as usual. This airport will now be privately managed with a strong focus on efficiency, accountability, and service delivery. Those who perform their duties diligently have nothing to fear,” he added.
The minister also praised Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah for championing the airport’s transformation and helping to attract private investment to the project. He recalled that soon after taking office, the governor presented President Bola Tinubu with a strategic vision to position Enugu as a leading aviation hub and investment destination in the South-East.
“Mbah started with Enugu Air, and now he has brought in capital and investors for the airport,” Keyamo added.
The minister urged Aero Alliance Limited to implement the concession with professionalism, transparency and accountability, stressing the importance of delivering on its commitments.
He also reassured airport workers that the concession would stimulate job creation and expand employment opportunities, rather than lead to workforce reductions.
In his remarks, Governor Peter Mbah described the concession as a landmark achievement for the South-East, saying it would unlock significant economic opportunities, boost investment and enhance the region’s competitiveness as a key aviation and commercial hub.
“It opens a new chapter of economic possibilities because businesses across our region have long grappled with logistics constraints that increased costs, lengthened delivery timelines, and limited competitiveness,” he said.
The governor expressed confidence that the concession would spur economic growth, strengthen regional connectivity and accelerate the South-East’s emergence as a strategic hub for business, trade and investment.
Mbah stressed, “We hope future generations will look back to this day as the moment when Akanu Ibiam International Airport began its transformation into a truly world-class gateway serving the South-East, connecting Nigeria to the world and opening new pathways to prosperity for millions of our people.”
Mbah said the airport concession is consistent with his administration’s broader strategy of positioning Enugu as a leading destination for investment, trade, tourism and industrial development, adding that the project would strengthen the state’s economic transformation agenda.
Speaking on behalf of the concessionaire, the Managing Director of Aero Alliance Limited, Saleem Hussain, assured stakeholders that the consortium would leverage its more than three decades of aviation expertise to develop Akanu Ibiam International Airport into one of Africa’s premier aviation and logistics hubs.
