The Federal Government of Nigeria, on Thursday, officially handed over the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, AIIA, Enugu, to Aero Alliance Limited under a 30-year public-private partnership concession.
With the concession, Aero Alliance Limited takes over the financing, rehabilitation, expansion, operation, and management of the airport.
Speaking during the handover ceremony at the international terminal of AIIA, Enugu, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, said, “For 20 years, various governments have tried to concession some of our airports because of the belief that the private sector would run them more professionally and in a more commercially driven way.”
“During the time of the previous administration, when almost all the airports were advertised for concession, all the bidders avoided Enugu and Port Harcourt airports. There was no bidder for Enugu or Port Harcourt. Everybody was rushing to Lagos, Kano, and Abuja because many people wanted food that was ready.”
“However, the reverse is the case now. We currently have no bidders for Lagos, Abuja, or Kano. But Enugu and Port Harcourt airports are taken.”
Keyamo recounted how the Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, presented his well-articulated plans for the airport to President Bola Tinubu, who, in turn, provided the necessary support to achieve his vision of turning Enugu into an aviation and investment hub.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development further commended the Enugu State Governor’s readiness to move the state to greater heights; “Dr. Peter Mbah came with a plan for Enugu. He did not come and begin to assess the situation. He is a governor who came into office with a plan. And today, we are glad that we have found in him the perfect partnership we need between the Federal and the State governments,” Keyamo said.
Keyamo allayed fears of job loss due to the concession, saying Aero Alliance Limited will create more jobs even as it discharges its responsibilities with the highest standards of professionalism, transparency, operational excellence, and commitment to safety.
In his remark, the Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Dr. Jobson Ewalefor, commended President Bola Tinubu and the Enugu State Governor for making the concession a reality.
“We are here today because of the reputation of the Governor. His reputation attracted the capital. Governor Peter Mbah is very strategic and methodical in what he is doing.”
“The Enugu Air and an agreement being signed from Guangzhou to Enugu are enough traffic to create viability,” Ewelefoh disclosed.
Meanwhile, Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah said the successful concession marks the beginning of a new chapter in the journey to unlock the immense economic potential of the South East region.
“It opens a new chapter of economic possibilities because businesses across our region have long grappled with logistics constraints that increased costs, lengthened delivery timelines, and limited competitiveness.”
“We hope that future generations will look back to this day as the moment when Akanu Ibiam International Airport began its transformation into a truly world-class gateway serving the South East, connecting Nigeria to the world and opening new pathways to prosperity for millions of our people.”
“So, today is a dream come true as we herald the promise of a South East that will be more connected, more competitive, more prosperous, and more visible on the global stage,” Mbah reiterates.
Appreciating the Aero Alliance consortium for seeing and believing in the potential of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Governor Mbah calls on investors to consider Enugu State for viable investments.
The Managing Director of Aero Alliance, Saleem Hussain, promised to put the consortiums over three decades of experience in the aviation sector to transform Akanu Ibiam International Airport into one of Africa’s leading aviation hubs.
Hussain said they will focus on connectivity, cargo and logistics, passenger experience, commercial development, technology, and operational excellence.
A concession airport in Nigeria is a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model in which the Federal Government leases specific airport terminals and their non-aeronautical assets to private investors for a fixed period, usually 20 to 30 years. It aims to raise funds for modernization without selling the facilities.
