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The Federal Government has signed a concession agreement for the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, marking a major milestone in its drive to modernise Nigeria’s aviation infrastructure through public-private partnerships.
The development was announced in a statement issued on Friday by the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
According to the statement, the agreement was signed in the presence of officials from the Enugu State Government, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and the concessionaire, Aero Alliance.
‘End of a long, transparent process’ — Keyamo
Speaking on the development, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said the agreement concluded a lengthy 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 airport, subject to contract,” Keyamo said.
He explained that following the approval, the ministry, FAAN, and Aero Alliance engaged in extensive negotiations, including consultations with aviation unions, to ensure the protection of workers’ rights.
Workers’ jobs, benefits protected
Keyamo stressed that job security was a central element of the concession framework.
“We did these agreements with the rights and privileges of workers uppermost in our minds. Their jobs are safe and protected. They have not been retrenched, their terms and conditions of employment remain unchanged, and they continue as employees of the Federal Government and FAAN,” he said.
He added that workers had not been short-changed in any way and that all critical issues were addressed before the signing of the agreement.
Minor operational issues to be resolved
While the main concession agreement has been concluded, the minister noted that a few operational details would still be finalised.
“There are two outstanding issues relating to the operationalisation of the agreement — security fees and the airport’s financial model. These will be resolved in the coming weeks. However, the main concession agreement has been successfully concluded,” he said.
Keyamo described the signing as a historic milestone that would reposition the Enugu airport for greater efficiency, improved service delivery, and a better passenger experience.
Part of wider aviation reform
The concession of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport forms part of the Federal Government’s broader aviation reform programme aimed at attracting private investment, upgrading infrastructure, improving regional connectivity, and enhancing Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global aviation sector.
Earlier in 2025, the Ministry of Aviation clarified that concession plans for Enugu and other major airports — including Lagos and Port Harcourt — were still under review, with proposals from prospective concessionaires being evaluated by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) before final approval by the Federal Executive Council.
What is a concession?
A concession is a public-private partnership arrangement in which a private entity operates, maintains, and upgrades airport facilities for an agreed period, while ownership remains with the government. The model is designed to attract private capital and expertise to improve infrastructure and service delivery.
