The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has signed the formal concession agreement for the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu State, marking a major step in the Federal Government’s aviation reform drive.
A statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister, Tunde Moshood, said the signing ceremony took place at the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development in Abuja. The event brought together officials of the Enugu State Government and representatives of Aero Alliance, the airport’s concessionaire.
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The Enugu State delegation was led by the Commissioner for Transport, Dr. Obi Ozor, while the Aero Alliance team comprised Engr. Chuks Aniekwe, Barrister Oyiwodu Okibe-Oga, Onyedikachi Nwachukwu, Kester Enwereonu, and Barrister Michael Nwaechie of Ivy Solicitors.
Also present were the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Dr. Yakubu Adams Kofarmata; the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku; the FAAN Director of Legal Services, Mrs. Bridget Iwinose Gold; and other senior officials of the Ministry and FAAN.
Speaking at the ceremony, Keyamo described the signing as the culmination of a long and rigorous process that spanned several years.
“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 approval by the Federal Executive Council, the Ministry, FAAN, and Aero Alliance entered into extensive negotiations, including engagements with aviation unions, to protect the interests of workers.
“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 stressed.
According to Keyamo, job security and staff welfare were central to 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 although the main concession agreement has been concluded, two operational matters security charges and the airport’s financial model would be addressed in the coming weeks.
“There are two little issues after signing, in terms of operationalizing 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.
Keyamo described the event as historic, expressing confidence that the concession would reposition the Akanu Ibiam International Airport for greater efficiency, improved service delivery, and enhanced passenger experience.
The concession forms part of the Federal Government’s broader strategy to modernise Nigeria’s aviation infrastructure through public-private partnerships, attract private investment, boost regional connectivity, and strengthen the country’s competitiveness in the global aviation sector.