The Federal Government has signed the concession agreement for the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, marking a key step in its plan to modernise aviation infrastructure through public-private partnerships.
The agreement was announced through a statement signed on Friday by the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo. The statement noted that officials from Enugu State, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, and the concessionaire, Aero Alliance, were present during the signing.
Keyamo said the agreement concluded a long and transparent process that began several years ago. “Today is the end of a very long and tedious process regarding the concession of the Enugu Airport. The process culminated on the 31st of July, 2025, when the Federal Executive Council approved the proposal to concession the Enugu Airport, subject, of course, to contract,” the minister said.
He explained that following the Federal Executive Council’s approval, the ministry, FAAN, and Aero Alliance held extensive negotiations, including consultations with aviation unions, to protect workers’ interests.
“We did these agreements with the rights and privileges of workers uppermost in our minds. Let me say today that we have fully respected and preserved the rights of aviation workers. They have not been retrenched, their terms and conditions of employment have not changed in any way, and they remain workers of the Federal Government and FAAN,” he said.
Keyamo stressed that job security formed a central part of the concession framework. “The workers have not been short-changed in any way at all. Their jobs are safe and protected. Having taken care of the rights of workers, we then addressed other critical issues and virtually covered all areas before the signing of this agreement,” he added.
The minister noted that while the main concession agreement had been concluded, some operational matters would still be finalised. “There are two little issues after signing, in terms of operationalising the agreement, regarding security fees and the financial model of the airport. These will be resolved in the next few weeks. But as far as the main concession is concerned, we have agreed to concession the Enugu Airport to Aero Alliance today,” he said.
He described the signing as a historic milestone that would reposition the Enugu airport for improved efficiency, better service delivery, and enhanced passenger experience.
The concession of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport is part of the Federal Government’s wider aviation reform programme aimed at attracting private investment, improving infrastructure, boosting regional connectivity, and strengthening Nigeria’s competitiveness in the aviation sector.
In early 2025, the Federal Ministry of Aviation clarified that plans to concession Enugu and other airports, including Lagos and Port Harcourt, were still under review and that no fixed terms had been agreed.
The ministry said proposals from prospective concessionaires, with varying durations and financial models, were being evaluated by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission before final approval by the Federal Executive Council.
A concession is a form of public-private partnership in which a private entity operates, maintains and upgrades airport facilities for a set period while ownership remains with the government. The aim is to attract private capital and expertise to improve infrastructure and service delivery.
