The Federal Government has officially handed over the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu to Aero Alliance Limited under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, marking a significant step in the ongoing reform of Nigeria’s aviation sector.
The handover ceremony took place on Thursday at the airport’s newly completed terminal and was led by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo. He described the development as a major achievement, noting that efforts to attract private investors to the airport had been ongoing for more than 20 years without success.
According to the minister, the airport concession became possible under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He explained that previous attempts failed because investors were more interested in airports located in major commercial cities such as Lagos, Abuja, and Kano.
Keyamo stated that for many years, private investors overlooked airports in Enugu and Port Harcourt, making it difficult for the government to secure the necessary partnerships needed to improve infrastructure and operations. He said the successful concession of the Enugu airport now demonstrates growing confidence in Nigeria’s aviation industry.
The minister also revealed that plans are already in motion to concession more airports across the country. He disclosed that the Port Harcourt International Airport is expected to be handed over to a private operator within the next few weeks as part of the government’s broader strategy to encourage private-sector participation.
Addressing concerns from aviation workers, Keyamo assured employees that their jobs, welfare, and rights would remain protected under the new management structure. He emphasized that the government would continue to monitor the arrangement to ensure workers are treated fairly.
He further challenged Aero Alliance Limited to deliver excellent results, stressing that the company’s performance would serve as an important benchmark for future airport concession projects in Nigeria. According to him, the success of the Enugu airport concession could influence investor interest in other airports across the country.
The event attracted several dignitaries, including the Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, top officials from the Ministry of Aviation, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), and representatives of Aero Alliance Limited.
Speaking during the ceremony, Governor Mbah described the concession as a game-changing development for Enugu State. He said the partnership would strengthen the state’s ambition of becoming a leading aviation, logistics, and investment destination in West Africa.
The governor added that improved airport operations would attract more businesses, create economic opportunities, boost tourism, and improve the travel experience for passengers using the facility.
Industry stakeholders believe the concession will open a new chapter for Nigeria’s aviation sector by bringing private-sector expertise into airport management. Government officials expressed confidence that the arrangement will lead to better efficiency, upgraded facilities, improved passenger services, and long-term growth in air transportation across the country.
With the successful handover of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Nigeria has taken another step toward modernizing its aviation infrastructure and creating a more sustainable and competitive air transport industry.
