The Federal Government has signed a concession agreement for the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, marking a major step in its plan to modernise aviation infrastructure through public-private partnerships.
The agreement was announced in a statement signed on Friday by the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
According to the statement, officials of the Enugu State Government, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and the concessionaire, Aero Alliance, were present at the signing ceremony.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said the agreement concluded a long and transparent process that began several years ago.
“Today marks the end of a very long and tedious process regarding the concession of the Enugu Airport. The process culminated on July 31, 2025, when the Federal Executive Council approved the proposal to concession the Enugu Airport, subject to contract,” Keyamo said.
He explained that following the Federal Executive Council’s approval, the ministry, FAAN and Aero Alliance engaged in extensive negotiations, including consultations with aviation unions, to safeguard workers’ interests.
“We did these agreements with the rights and privileges of workers uppermost in our minds. 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,” the minister said.
Keyamo stressed that job security was a central component of the concession framework, adding that workers had not been short-changed in any way and their jobs remained safe.
He noted that while the main concession agreement had been concluded, some operational issues would still be resolved.
“There are two minor 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,” he said.
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The minister 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 forms part of the Federal Government’s broader aviation reform programme aimed at attracting private investment, improving infrastructure, boosting regional connectivity, and enhancing Nigeria’s competitiveness in the aviation sector.
Earlier in 2025, the Ministry of Aviation clarified that plans to concession Enugu and other airports, including Lagos and Port Harcourt, were under review, with proposals from prospective concessionaires being evaluated by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission before final approval by the Federal Executive Council.
A concession arrangement is a form of public-private partnership under which a private entity operates, maintains and upgrades airport facilities for an agreed period, while ownership remains with the government.